Owen Patrick "Opie" Bosson ONZM (born 24 July 1980) is a jockey in Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand.

Opie Bosson
ONZM
Bosson in 2023
Full nameOwen Patrick Bosson
OccupationJockey
Born (1980-07-24) 24 July 1980 (age 44)
New Zealand
SpouseEmily Murphy
Significant horses

Riding career

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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:

Personal life

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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

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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

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References

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  1. ^ "Opie Bosson Ready to Return | News - Te Akau Racing".
  2. ^ a b New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1997 (26th edition). Dillon, Mike, Editor. Mike Dillon's Racing Enterprises Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand.
  3. ^ "Racing: Huge year and record for Bosson". NZ Herald. 19 May 2019.
  4. ^ "Opie Bosson / Jockey Profile / RaceInfo / LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
  5. ^ "The King's Birthday and Coronation honours list 2023". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Further honours for champion jockey Bosson". loveracing.nz.
  7. ^ "Bosson joins exclusive 2000-win club". NZ Herald. 14 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Race 1 ICIB BROKERWEB 2YO at WAIKATO THOROUGHBRED RACING on 16 DEC 2023 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
  9. ^ "Opie Bosson Q&A: A glimpse into the mind of NZ's top jockey". 26 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Racing: Mongolian Khan's reign seems over". 29 March 2016.
  11. ^ "Bosson eager for race day return". www.sen.com.au.
  12. ^ "Full Result 3.00 Ellerslie (NZ) | 13 April 1998 | Racing Post". www.racingpost.com.
  13. ^ "Virtual Form Guide – Top Jockey Opie Rapt In Darci". form.virtualformguide.com.
  14. ^ "Third Group I for Vosne Romanee > Australia and International Horse Racing news updated daily". www.thoroughbrednews.com.au.
  15. ^ "BMW Caulfield Cup". RACING.COM.
  16. ^ "Race 7 RANDWICK MEATS LEVIN CLASSIC at WELLINGTON RC on 14 JAN 2017 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
  17. ^ "Race 7 GRANT PLUMBING LEVIN CLASSIC at WELLINGTON RC on 13 JAN 2018 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
  18. ^ "WATCH: Te Akau Shark claims first G1 in stunning fashion". Punters.com.au.
  19. ^ "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.
  20. ^ "Racing: Opie Bosson wins Railway at Ellerslie with Avantage, but facing suspension for Karaka Million". NZ Herald.
  21. ^ Desk, New Zealand Racing. "Avantage wins seventh Group 1". RACING.COM. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  22. ^ "Third G1 for Imperatriz - Invincible Mare Wins Railway at Te Rapa | Breednet". www.breednet.com.au.
  23. ^ "Horse racing: Kiwi mare stars in William Reid - NZ Herald". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023.
  24. ^ "Fifth G1 Win for I Am Invincible Mare Imperatriz | Breednet". www.breednet.com.au.
  25. ^ "Horse racing: Imperatriz breaks track record again at The Valley". NZ Herald. 29 October 2023.
  26. ^ "Horse racing: Imperatriz stuns Aussie punters". NZ Herald. 29 October 2023.
  27. ^ https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/horse-racing/vic-racing/imperatriz-wins-2023-group-1-manikato-stakes-at-the-valley/news-story/c9fc33dc0bc9e21eea8c4f958f229738 [bare URL]
  28. ^ "Full Result 4.50 Flemington (AUS) | 11 November 2023 | Racing Post". www.racingpost.com.
  29. ^ "Race 6 CAMBRIDGE STUD LEVIN CLASSIC at WELLINGTON RC on 13 JAN 2024 | LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
  30. ^ "Racing.com". www.racing.com.
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