By Jordan Gerrans
Away from the bright lights of Group 1 glory throughout her record-breaking career, Kiwi superstar Melody Belle has developed an inseparable bond with strapper Ashley Handley.
As trainer Jamie Richards and regular rider Opie Bosson are busy back across the ditch with their day-to-day duties, Handley will often take on the Australian trips with the 14-time Group 1 champion.
It is Richards, Bosson and the gun mare who get the plaudits on race day, but when Melody Belle does come across to Australia, it is Handley who is there to ride her in the morning and take her for a pick in the grass of an afternoon.
The pair travelled up from Sydney to the Gold Coast this week, basing themselves at Brian and Daniel Guy’s stables at Aquis Park, ahead of the Group 2 TAB A.D. Hollindale Stakes, a location they will likely remain at until the Group 1 Doomben Cup later this month.
While the majority of Melody Belle’s Group 1 glory has occurred on her home tracks across the ditch, she is a regular in Sydney, Melbourne, and Queensland and that is exactly where Handley has built her bond.
As Handley and Melody Belle enjoyed their afternoon stroll on Thursday, the Kiwi track work rider and strapper could not help get emotional when she thought about the prospect of the curtain closing on the sparkling career of “Valerie”, as she is affectionately known.
“She is quirky but she is a good quirky, she makes the day definitely enjoyable,” Handley said with a smile.
“I get her over in Australia, which is great, you get to know them well and all their quirks.
“They look forward to seeing you, hopefully, in the mornings and in the afternoons, it is good to have the bond with them.
“You do not get horses like her every day.”
Melody Belle has brought in over $4 million in prizemoney for her connections and would draw level with legend Black Caviar if she could add one more Group 1 to her resume during her Queensland stay.
The champion of New Zealand racing is in the Sunshine State - where she first announced herself as a star way back in 2017 - for her two final career runs, before heading to May’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
From Richards, Bosson, Handley and Fortuna Director John Galvin, who owns the star mare, there is mixed emotions around the upcoming end of her stunning career.
“It is definitely exciting and a lot of emotions going around, excitement and anticipation and sadness - all sorts,” Handley said.
“It is going to be good but I will be sad to see her go.”