Written by Paul Vettise
Champion jockey Opie Bosson singled out a week that brought thrills on and off the racetrack as his highlight of the 2018-19 term as he prepares for his return to the saddle from injuries suffered in a fall.
The 39-year-old won six top-flight races last season, but the number one rider for the powerful Te Akau Racing operation went back to the summer for the high points of his year.
“It wasn’t a Group 1, but the Karaka Million was my highlight of the season. I had to waste hard to ride at 54.5kg and little Max was born so it was a really good week for me,” Bosson said.
“It wasn’t a Group 1, but the Karaka Million was my highlight of the season. I had to waste hard to ride at 54.5kg and little Max was born so it was a really good week for me." - Opie Bosson
With wife and broadcasting identity Emily, he welcomed his son into the world in January and victory in the Ellerslie 2-year-old feature aboard the Jamie Richards-trained Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) for owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay, of Cambridge Stud, crowned the week.
Bosson won 64 races last season, including the G1 Bonecrusher S. and the G1 Haunui WFA Classic aboard Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), the G1 Captain Cook S. and the G1 Zabeel Classic with Danzdanzdance (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and the G1 Sistema S. and Manawatu Sires’ Produce S. with Yourdeel (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}).
He also had the best strike winning rate of 4.48 of any rider in the top 50 on the New Zealand Jockeys’ Premiership.
Nasty tumble
Bosson’s season was cut short at the end of May at Te Rapa where his mount Cicciolina (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) finished third, but clipped heels and soon after the finishing post.
“I broke my sternum and a few ribs. I was going to ride at the trials last week, but I didn’t get my concussion test done,” he said.
Bosson, who enjoyed a family holiday in England and Switzerland while he was out of action, is hoping to pick up rides at Pukekohe Park this Saturday.
“I’m really excited about the season, I’m feeling really good,” he said.
Te Akau Shark (NZ)
His first major assignment of the 2019-2020 season will come seven days later at Te Rapa and the G2 U S Navy Flag Foxbridge Plate where he is likely to resume his association with the Australian-bound Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}).
Bosson is unbeaten in three rides, including the G2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile, aboard the Richards-trained chestnut, who will head to Sydney after the Foxbridge to prepare for the G1 Epsom H. at Randwick on October 5 and then on to Melbourne for the G1 Cox Plate.
“I’d love to win a Cox Plate, it’s the ultimate horse race I think in Australia,” he said. “It would be exciting just to have a ride in the race.”
