Opie Bosson, one of the greatest jockeys New Zealand has produced, announced his retirement from riding on Friday [Dec 27].
Bosson, 44, leaves behind an incredible legacy in the sport, winning 99 G1 races in a glittering career which saw him inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame in 2023 and immortalised in the memorable “There’s only one Opie Bosson” Boys Get Paid chant at the annual Karaka Millions meeting at Ellerslie.
He was named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for his contribution to the Thoroughbred industry in 2023 in the King’s Birthday and Coronation Honours list.
Among Bosson’s biggest wins were the Australian (AJC) Derby and Caulfield Cup aboard Mongolian Khan in 2015 and nine G1s wins on champion mare Imperatriz.
“My association with Imperatriz was the highlight of my career,” said Bosson. “Horses like that don’t come along every day and to be involved in her big wins in Melbourne is something I’ll never forget.
“Once she retired, it became a lot harder for me to keep going. She probably kept me going really. It’s just the right time to hang up my boots now. I feel I’ve given all I had to give.”
Bosson was first apprenticed to Te Akau when his godfather Stephen Autridge was the head trainer, having joined the stable as a 14-year-old. He enjoyed a long and successful association with the David Ellis-led stable.
“I’ve done 30 years and it’s time for me to start working for a future after racing, something I can be happy in,” Bosson explained.
“I’ve had some great times in racing, enjoyed a lot of success and made plenty of lifelong friends. I just want to thank all the owners and trainers who have supported me, and for all the comradery from the jockeys I’ve ridden with, and all the support I’ve got from the racing public all over New Zealand.”
Bosson brought up his 2,000th New Zealand win aboard Move To Strike at Te Rapa in December 2023 and finishes with a career tally of 2,146 wins, with 2,059 of those coming in New Zealand. He won 51 races in Australia, 16 of those at G1 level, as well as 31 in Singapore, including two Singapore G1s that don’t count towards his international tally: the 2007 Singapore Cup on Recast and the 2010 Singapore Derby on Dream Ahead.
Bosson also rode in Japan, United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong, where he was successful on five occasions.
Among those to pay tribute to Bosson was his long-time mentor and friend David Ellis CNZM.
“Opie established himself as world-class, especially the way he rode Imperatriz. He’s been a massive part of our stable,” Ellis said.
“He’s had to battle weight problems throughout his career and for him to keep going as long as he did and with the success is a real credit to him. He’s been a great friend and we’ll never forget the success we’ve had together.
“You think about the Karaka Millions winners we’ve had, Melody Belle, Avantage, Cool Aza Beel, Probabeel, Dynastic and before them King’s Chapel right through to all the Guineas winners we’ve had together. He’s been prolific, winning more than 50 Group 1 races for us. He’s been a tremendously successful rider.”
Hall of Fame trainer Murray Baker rated Bosson up with the best riders he worked with.
“He was the complete package,” Baker said.
“He had a great temperament on a horse, was unfazed on a horse and just had great hands, a prodigious talent. He won three Derbies for us and a Caulfield Cup, among a lot of big-race wins. We had great success together and he’ll be sorely missed in the riders’ ranks.”
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