Opie Bosson
- Avantage
- Gingernuts
- Melody Belle
- Mongolian Khan
- Grand Archway
- Probabeel
- Quick Thinker
- Te Akau Shark Imperatriz
Owen Patrick "Opie" Bosson ONZM (born 24 July 1980) is a jockey in Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand.
Riding career
Bosson started as an apprentice for Stephen Autridge, his godfather. He began his race-day riding career as a 15 year old on 25 October 1995 with Comette at Dargaville and soon after had his first win on Fairlie Airlie at Gisborne.[1]
In the 1997 season he was the McBeath Apprentice of the Year at the BMW New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Awards and was eighth on the New Zealand Premiership, behind Lance O'Sullivan, with 75 wins from 703 starts.[2] The next apprentice was Mark Sweeney on 53 wins.
On 2 September 1998 Bosson rode the first Australian winner for Chris Waller, Party Belle, in a 2100m maiden race at Wyong.
His first Group 1 victory was Jezabeel in the 1998 Auckland Cup, aged 17.
In March 2019 Bosson surpassed the record of Lance O'Sullivan as the winner of the most New Zealand Group 1 races, with 63 when Melody Belle won the New Zealand Stakes at Ellerslie.[3]
As at the end of the 2021 season, Bosson had won:
- over 1,800 New Zealand races.[4]
- 78 Group 1 races (10 in Australia).
In the 2023 King's Birthday and Coronation Honours, Bosson was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Thoroughbred racing.[5][6]
In December 2023 Bosson became the eighth jockey to record 2000 New Zealand wins when riding Move To Strike to win at Te Rapa. The other seven jockeys to reach that mark were Chris Johnson, David Walsh, Lance O'Sullivan, Noel Harris, Bill Skelton, Michael Coleman and David Peake.[7][8]
In March 2024 Bosson told New Zealand Herald journalist Chris Rattue[9] that his:
- favourite horse was Imperatriz
- most memorable race was winning the Caulfield Cup with Mongolian Khan[10]
- favourite opponent was James McDonald.
Personal life
Opie Bosson is the son of Owen and Glenda Bosson. Owen was a prominent amateur jockey.[2]
At the end of 2017, Bosson married TAB Trackside Television presenter Emily Murphy.[11]
Notable victories
The following are some of the major races Opie has won in New Zealand and Australia.
Year | Race | Horse | Trainer(s) |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | Auckland Cup | Jezabeel | Brian Jenkins |
1998 | Telegraph Handicap | Vegas | Graeme Rogerson & Keith Hawtin |
1998 | Thorndon Mile | Fayreform | Stephen Autridge |
1998 | New Zealand International Stakes | Fayreform | Stephen Autridge |
1998 | New Zealand Stakes | Fayreform | Stephen Autridge |
1998 | Ellerslie Sires Produce Stakes | Zola | Dave & Paul O'Sullivan[12] |
1998 | VRC Oaks | Grand Archway | Graeme Rogerson |
1998 | New Zealand 2000 Guineas | Danske | Paul O'Sullivan |
1999 | Levin Classic | Buzz Lightyear | Robert Priscott |
1999 | New Zealand 2000 Guineas | Buzz Lightyear | Robert Priscott |
2000 | New Zealand Oaks | She's Country | Bruce Wallace |
2002 | Levin Classic | Bunker | Trevor & Stephen McKee |
2003 | New Zealand Oaks | Bramble Road | Sir Mark Todd |
2003 | Kelt Capital Stakes | Distinctly Secret | Mark Walker |
2003 | New Zealand 2000 Guineas | King's Chapel | Mark Walker |
2004 | Railway Stakes | Vinaka | Paul O'Sullivan |
2004 | Zabeel Classic | Lashed | Graeme Rogerson & Stephen Autridge |
2004 | New Zealand Stakes | Lashed | Graeme Rogerson & Stephen Autridge |
2004 | New Zealand International Stakes | Lashed | Graeme Rogerson & Stephen Autridge |
2004 | Easter Handicap | Pomp And Glory | Alan Jones & Brett McDonald |
2007 | Telegraph Handicap | Darci Brahma | Mark Walker |
2007 | Thorndon Mile | Sir Slick | Graeme Nicholson |
2007 | Waikato Sprint | Darci Brahma[13] | Mark Walker |
2007 | New Zealand Oaks | Princess Coup | Mark Walker |
2007 | Singapore Gold Cup | Recast | Laurie Laxon |
2009 | New Zealand 2000 Guineas | Katie Lee | Graeme & Debbie Rogerson |
2009 | New Zealand 1000 Guineas | Katie Lee | Graeme & Debbie Rogerson |
2009 | Captain Cook Stakes | Ekstreme | Bryce Reville |
2010 | New Zealand Stakes | Vosne Romanee[14] | Jeff Lynds |
2010 | New Zealand Oaks | Keep The Peace | Shaune Ritchie |
2010 | Singapore Derby | Race Ahead | Bruce Marsh |
2010 | New Zealand 1000 Guineas | King's Rose | Jason Bridgman |
2011 | New Zealand Stakes | The Party Stand | Roger James |
2011 | Diamond Stakes | Anabandana | Don Selwood |
2012 | Diamond Stakes | Warhorse | Jason Bridgman |
2013 | New Zealand International Stakes | Sangster | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
2013 | Diamond Stakes | Ruud Awakening | Stephen Marsh |
2013 | New Zealand 2000 Guineas | Atlante | Murray Baker |
2014 | New Zealand 2000 Guineas | Turn Me Loose | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman |
2015 | Diamond Stakes | Dal Cielo | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman |
2015 | Australian Derby | Mongolian Khan | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman |
2015 | Caulfield Cup | Mongolian Khan | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman[15] |
2016 | Railway Stakes | Ryan Mark | John Morell |
2015 | New Zealand Derby | Mongolian Khan | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman |
2017 | Karaka Million 2YO | Melody Belle | Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards |
2017 | New Zealand Derby | Gingernuts | Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards |
2017 | Rosehill Guineas | Gingernuts | Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards |
2017 | Levin Classic | Hall Of Fame[16] | Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards |
2017 | Windsor Park Plate | Gingernuts | Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards |
2017 | New Zealand 2000 Guineas | Embellish | Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards |
2018 | Levin Classic | Age Of Fire[17] | Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards |
2018 | Karaka Million 2YO | Avantage | Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards |
2018 | Sistema Stakes | Sword Of Osman | Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards |
2018 | Captain Cook Stakes | Danzdanzdance | Chris Gibbs & Michelle Bradley |
2018 | Zabeel Classic | Danzdanzdance | Chris Gibbs & Michelle Bradley |
2019 | Sistema Stakes | Yourdeel | Jamie Richards |
2019 | Karaka Million 2YO | Probabeel | Jamie Richards |
2019 | New Zealand Stakes | Melody Belle | Jamie Richards |
2019 | Otaki-Maori Weight for Age | Melody Belle | Jamie Richards |
2020 | Telegraph Handicap | Avantage | Jamie Richards |
2020 | Karaka Million 2YO | Cool Aza Beel | Jamie Richards |
2020 | Karaka Million 2YO | Probabeel | Jamie Richards |
2020 | Waikato Sprint | Te Akau Shark[18] | Jamie Richards |
2020 | Sistema Stakes | Cool Aza Beel | Jamie Richards |
2020 | New Zealand Stakes | Avantage | Jamie Richards |
2020 | Surround Stakes | Probabeel | Jamie Richards |
2020 | Chipping Norton Stakes | Te Akau Shark[19] | Jamie Richards |
2020 | Australian Derby | Quick Thinker | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman |
2020 | All Aged Stakes | Tofane | Mike Moroney |
2020 | New Zealand 1000 Guineas | Kahma Lass | Jamie Richards |
2021 | Railway Stakes | Avantage[20] | Jamie Richards |
2021 | Thorndon Mile | Melody Belle | Jamie Richards |
2021 | Sistema Stakes | Sword of State | Jamie Richards |
2021 | New Zealand Oaks | Amarelinha | Jamie Richards |
2021 | Waikato Sprint | Avantage[21] | Jamie Richards |
2021 | Otaki-Maori Weight for Age | Avantage | Jamie Richards |
2021 | New Zealand 2000 Guineas | Noverre | Jamie Richards |
2021 | New Zealand 1000 Guineas | The Perfect Pink | Jamie Richards |
2022 | Railway Stakes | Entriviere | Jamie Richards |
2022 | Karaka Million 2YO | Dynastic | Jamie Richards |
2023 | Railway Stakes | Imperatriz[22] | Mark Walker |
2023 | Sistema Stakes | Tokyo Tycoon | Mark Walker |
2023 | William Reid Stakes | Imperatriz[23][24] | Mark Walker |
2023 | A J Moir Stakes | Imperatriz[25] | Mark Walker |
2023 | Manikato Stakes | Imperatriz[26][27] | Mark Walker |
2023 | Darley Champions Sprint | Imperatriz | Mark Walker[28] |
2023 | Zabeel Classic | Campionessa | Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson |
2024 | Levin Classic | Quintessa[29] | Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson |
2024 | Black Caviar Lightning[30] | Imperatriz | Mark Walker |
2024 | William Reid Stakes | Imperatriz | Mark Walker |
See also
- Lisa Allpress
- Noel Harris
- Chris Johnson
- Lance O'Sullivan
- Michael Walker
- David Walsh
- Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand
References
- ^ "Opie Bosson Ready to Return | News - Te Akau Racing".
- ^ a b New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1997 (26th edition). Dillon, Mike, Editor. Mike Dillon's Racing Enterprises Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand.
- ^ "Racing: Huge year and record for Bosson". NZ Herald.
- ^ "Opie Bosson / Jockey Profile / RaceInfo / LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
- ^ "The King's Birthday and Coronation honours list 2023". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- ^ "Further honours for champion jockey Bosson". loveracing.nz.
- ^ "Bosson joins exclusive 2000-win club". NZ Herald. 14 January 2024.
- ^ "Race 1 ICIB BROKERWEB 2YO at WAIKATO THOROUGHBRED RACING on 16 DEC 2023 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
- ^ https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/chris-rattue-qa-opie-bosson-reflects-on-childhood-memorable-races-and-his-unique-path-to-success/GZIZBKEZRZEF7K72TEGH7GL34Q/
- ^ https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/racing-mongolian-khans-reign-seems-over/7WHEGSCFCZOQP2HUBYBSCAQUUE/
- ^ "Bosson eager for race day return". www.sen.com.au.
- ^ "Full Result 3.00 Ellerslie (NZ) | 13 April 1998 | Racing Post". www.racingpost.com.
- ^ "Virtual Form Guide – Top Jockey Opie Rapt In Darci". form.virtualformguide.com.
- ^ "Third Group I for Vosne Romanee > Australia and International Horse Racing news updated daily". www.thoroughbrednews.com.au.
- ^ "BMW Caulfield Cup". RACING.COM.
- ^ "Race 7 RANDWICK MEATS LEVIN CLASSIC at WELLINGTON RC on 14 JAN 2017 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
- ^ "Race 7 GRANT PLUMBING LEVIN CLASSIC at WELLINGTON RC on 13 JAN 2018 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
- ^ "WATCH: Te Akau Shark claims first G1 in stunning fashion". Punters.com.au.
- ^ "Windsor Park Stud | Horse Breeding | Horse Racing | Cambridge, New Zealand | Big Day for NZ as Rip Van Winkle's Te Akau Shark Claims the Chipping Norton Stakes". windsorparkstud.co.nz.
- ^ "Racing: Opie Bosson wins Railway at Ellerslie with Avantage, but facing suspension for Karaka Million". NZ Herald.
- ^ Desk, New Zealand Racing. "Avantage wins seventh Group 1". RACING.COM.
- ^ "Third G1 for Imperatriz - Invincible Mare Wins Railway at Te Rapa | Breednet". www.breednet.com.au.
- ^ "Horse racing: Kiwi mare stars in William Reid - NZ Herald". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023.
- ^ "Fifth G1 Win for I Am Invincible Mare Imperatriz | Breednet". www.breednet.com.au.
- ^ "Horse racing: Imperatriz breaks track record again at The Valley". NZ Herald. 29 October 2023.
- ^ "Horse racing: Imperatriz stuns Aussie punters". NZ Herald. 29 October 2023.
- ^ https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/horse-racing/vic-racing/imperatriz-wins-2023-group-1-manikato-stakes-at-the-valley/news-story/c9fc33dc0bc9e21eea8c4f958f229738
- ^ "Full Result 4.50 Flemington (AUS) | 11 November 2023 | Racing Post". www.racingpost.com.
- ^ "Race 6 CAMBRIDGE STUD LEVIN CLASSIC at WELLINGTON RC on 13 JAN 2024 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
- ^ "Racing.com". www.racing.com.
External links
- Opie Bosson