# Opie Bosson

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.
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. 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.
As at the end of the 2021 season, Bosson had won:
* over 1,800 New Zealand races.
* 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.
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.
In March 2024 Bosson told New Zealand Herald journalist Chris Rattue that his:
* favourite horse was Imperatriz
* most memorable race was winning the Caulfield Cup with Mongolian Khan
* favourite opponent was James McDonald.
In December 2024 Bosson announced his retirement from race riding. He finished his career with:
* 2146 wins, 2059 in New Zealand
* 99 Group 1 victories in New Zealand and Australia
* 51 wins, including 16 Group 1 races, in Australia
* 31 wins, including 2 Group 1 races, in Singapore

## Personal life

Opie Bosson is the son of Owen and Glenda Bosson. Owen was a prominent amateur jockey.
At the end of 2017, Bosson married TAB Trackside Television presenter Emily Murphy. They separated in 2024.

## 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 |
| 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 | 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 | 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 |
| 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | Mark Walker |
| 2023 | Sistema Stakes | Tokyo Tycoon | Mark Walker |
| 2023 | William Reid Stakes | Imperatriz | Mark Walker |
| 2023 | A J Moir Stakes | Imperatriz | Mark Walker |
| 2023 | Manikato Stakes | Imperatriz | Mark Walker |
| 2023 | Darley Champions Sprint | Imperatriz | Mark Walker |
| 2023 | Zabeel Classic | Campionessa | Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson |
| 2024 | Levin Classic | Quintessa | Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson |
| 2024 | Black Caviar Lightning | Imperatriz | Mark Walker |
| 2024 | William Reid Stakes | Imperatriz | Mark Walker |