Opie Bosson


Owen Patrick "'Opie" Bosson' 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.
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:
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
In July 2025 Bosson indicated he would return to raceday riding.

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
1998Auckland CupJezabeelBrian Jenkins
1998Telegraph HandicapVegasGraeme Rogerson & Keith Hawtin
1998Thorndon MileFayreformStephen Autridge
1998New Zealand International StakesFayreformStephen Autridge
1998New Zealand StakesFayreformStephen Autridge
1998Ellerslie Sires Produce StakesZolaDave & Paul O'Sullivan
1998VRC OaksGrand ArchwayGraeme Rogerson
1998New Zealand 2000 GuineasDanskePaul O'Sullivan
1999Levin ClassicBuzz LightyearRobert Priscott
1999New Zealand 2000 GuineasBuzz LightyearRobert Priscott
2000New Zealand OaksShe's CountryBruce Wallace
2002Levin ClassicBunkerTrevor & Stephen McKee
2003New Zealand OaksBramble RoadSir Mark Todd
2003Kelt Capital StakesDistinctly SecretMark Walker
2003New Zealand 2000 GuineasKing's ChapelMark Walker
2004Railway StakesVinakaPaul O'Sullivan
2004Zabeel ClassicLashedGraeme Rogerson & Stephen Autridge
2004New Zealand StakesLashedGraeme Rogerson & Stephen Autridge
2004New Zealand International StakesLashedGraeme Rogerson & Stephen Autridge
2004Easter HandicapPomp And GloryAlan Jones & Brett McDonald
2007Telegraph HandicapDarci BrahmaMark Walker
2007Thorndon MileSir SlickGraeme Nicholson
2007Waikato SprintDarci BrahmaMark Walker
2007New Zealand OaksPrincess CoupMark Walker
2007Singapore Gold CupRecastLaurie Laxon
2009New Zealand 2000 GuineasKatie LeeGraeme & Debbie Rogerson
2009New Zealand 1000 GuineasKatie LeeGraeme & Debbie Rogerson
2009Captain Cook StakesEkstremeBryce Reville
2010New Zealand StakesVosne RomaneeJeff Lynds
2010New Zealand OaksKeep The PeaceShaune Ritchie
2010Singapore DerbyRace AheadBruce Marsh
2010New Zealand 1000 GuineasKing's RoseJason Bridgman
2011New Zealand StakesThe Party StandRoger James
2011Diamond StakesAnabandanaDon Selwood
2012Diamond StakesWarhorseJason Bridgman
2013New Zealand International StakesSangsterTrent Busuttin & Natalie Young
2013Diamond StakesRuud AwakeningStephen Marsh
2013New Zealand 2000 GuineasAtlanteMurray Baker
2014New Zealand 2000 GuineasTurn Me LooseMurray Baker & Andrew Forsman
2015Diamond StakesDal CieloMurray Baker & Andrew Forsman
2015Australian DerbyMongolian KhanMurray Baker & Andrew Forsman
2015Caulfield CupMongolian KhanMurray Baker & Andrew Forsman
2016Railway StakesRyan MarkJohn Morell
2015New Zealand DerbyMongolian KhanMurray Baker & Andrew Forsman
2017Karaka Million 2YOMelody BelleStephen Autridge & Jamie Richards
2017New Zealand DerbyGingernutsStephen Autridge & Jamie Richards
2017Rosehill GuineasGingernutsStephen Autridge & Jamie Richards
2017Levin ClassicHall Of FameStephen Autridge & Jamie Richards
2017Windsor Park PlateGingernutsStephen Autridge & Jamie Richards
2017New Zealand 2000 GuineasEmbellishStephen Autridge & Jamie Richards
2018Levin ClassicAge Of FireStephen Autridge & Jamie Richards
2018Karaka Million 2YOAvantageStephen Autridge & Jamie Richards
2018Sistema StakesSword Of OsmanStephen Autridge & Jamie Richards
2018Captain Cook StakesDanzdanzdanceChris Gibbs & Michelle Bradley
2018Zabeel ClassicDanzdanzdanceChris Gibbs & Michelle Bradley
2019Sistema StakesYourdeelJamie Richards
2019Karaka Million 2YOProbabeelJamie Richards
2019New Zealand StakesMelody BelleJamie Richards
2019Otaki-Maori Weight for AgeMelody BelleJamie Richards
2020Telegraph HandicapAvantageJamie Richards
2020Karaka Million 2YOCool Aza BeelJamie Richards
2020Karaka Million 2YOProbabeelJamie Richards
2020Waikato SprintTe Akau SharkJamie Richards
2020Sistema StakesCool Aza BeelJamie Richards
2020New Zealand StakesAvantageJamie Richards
2020Surround StakesProbabeelJamie Richards
2020Chipping Norton StakesTe Akau SharkJamie Richards
2020Australian DerbyQuick ThinkerMurray Baker & Andrew Forsman
2020All Aged StakesTofaneMike Moroney
2020New Zealand 1000 GuineasKahma LassJamie Richards
2021Railway StakesAvantageJamie Richards
2021Thorndon MileMelody BelleJamie Richards
2021Sistema StakesSword of StateJamie Richards
2021New Zealand OaksAmarelinhaJamie Richards
2021Waikato SprintAvantageJamie Richards
2021Otaki-Maori Weight for AgeAvantageJamie Richards
2021New Zealand 2000 GuineasNoverreJamie Richards
2021New Zealand 1000 GuineasThe Perfect PinkJamie Richards
2022Railway StakesEntriviereJamie Richards
2022Karaka Million 2YODynasticJamie Richards
2023Railway StakesImperatrizMark Walker
2023Sistema StakesTokyo TycoonMark Walker
2023William Reid StakesImperatrizMark Walker
2023A J Moir StakesImperatrizMark Walker
2023Manikato StakesImperatrizMark Walker
2023Darley Champions SprintImperatrizMark Walker
2023Zabeel ClassicCampionessaMark Walker & Sam Bergerson
2024Levin ClassicQuintessaMark Walker & Sam Bergerson
2024Black Caviar LightningImperatrizMark Walker
2024William Reid StakesImperatrizMark Walker