Opie Bosson
| Opie Bosson ONZM | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Bosson in 2023 | |
| Full name | Owen Patrick Bosson |
| Occupation | Jockey |
| Born | 24 July 1980 New Zealand |
| Spouse | Emily Murphy |
| Significant horses | |
| |
Owen Patrick "Opie" Bosson ONZM (born 24 July 1980) is a jockey in Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand.
Riding career[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
The following are some of the major races Opie has won in New Zealand and Australia.
See also[edit]
- Lisa Allpress
- Noel Harris
- Chris Johnson
- Lance O'Sullivan
- Michael Walker
- David Walsh
- Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand
References[edit]
- ^ "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.