Owen Patrick "Opie" Bosson (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.New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1997 (26th edition). Dillon, Mike, Editor. Mike Dillon's Racing Enterprises Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand. 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
In July 2025 Bosson indicated he would return to raceday riding.
On 7 February 2026 he won his 100th Group 1 race on the back of Legarto at Te Rapa.
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 JezabeelBrian 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 ZolaDave & Paul O'Sullivan1998 VRC Oaks Grand ArchwayGraeme Rogerson 1998 New Zealand 2000 GuineasDanske Paul O'Sullivan 1999Levin Classic Buzz Lightyear Robert Priscott 1999New Zealand 2000 Guineas Buzz Lightyear Robert Priscott 2000 New Zealand OaksShe's Country Bruce Wallace2000Sir Byrne Hart StakesCheironBruce Marsh2002 Levin Classic Bunker Trevor & Stephen McKee 2003 New Zealand Oaks Bramble Road Sir Mark Todd 2003 Kelt Capital StakesDistinctly Secret Mark Walker 2003New Zealand 2000 Guineas King's Chapel Mark Walker 2004 Railway StakesVinaka 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 Ritchie2010 Singapore Derby Race Ahead Bruce Marsh2010 New Zealand 1000 GuineasKing's Rose Jason Bridgman2011 New Zealand Stakes The Party Stand Roger James 2011Diamond Stakes AnabandanaDon Selwood2011Manawatu Sires Produce StakesAnabandanaDon Selwood2012Diamond Stakes WarhorseJason Bridgman2013 New Zealand International Stakes SangsterTrent Busuttin & Natalie Young2013Diamond Stakes Ruud AwakeningStephen Marsh2013New Zealand 2000 GuineasAtlanteMurray Baker2014 New Zealand 2000 GuineasTurn Me LooseMurray Baker & Andrew Forsman2015Diamond StakesDal CieloMurray Baker & Andrew Forsman2015 Australian Derby Mongolian KhanMurray Baker & Andrew Forsman 2015Caulfield Cup Mongolian KhanMurray Baker & Andrew Forsman2016 Railway Stakes Ryan Mark John Morell2015New Zealand DerbyMongolian KhanMurray Baker & Andrew Forsman 2017Karaka Million 2YOMelody BelleStephen Autridge & Jamie Richards 2017 New Zealand Derby Gingernuts Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards 2017Rosehill Guineas Gingernuts Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards 2017Levin Classic Hall Of Fame Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards 2017 Windsor Park PlateGingernuts Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards 2017New Zealand 2000 GuineasEmbellishStephen Autridge & Jamie Richards 2018 Levin Classic Age Of Fire Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards 2018Karaka Million 2YOAvantageStephen Autridge & Jamie Richards 2018 Sistema StakesSword Of OsmanStephen Autridge & Jamie Richards2018 Captain Cook Stakes DanzdanzdanceChris Gibbs & Michelle Bradley 2018 Zabeel ClassicDanzdanzdanceChris Gibbs & Michelle Bradley 2019Sistema StakesYourdeelJamie Richards 2019Karaka Million 2YOProbabeel Jamie Richards 2019 New Zealand Stakes Melody Belle Jamie Richards 2019 Otaki-Maori Weight for Age Melody Belle Jamie Richards 2019Manawatu Sires Produce StakesYourdeelJamie Richards 2020 Telegraph Handicap Avantage Jamie Richards 2020Karaka Million 2YOCool Aza BeelJamie Richards 2020Karaka Million 2YOProbabeelJamie Richards 2020 Waikato Sprint Te Akau Shark Jamie Richards 2020Sistema StakesCool Aza BeelJamie Richards2020 New Zealand Stakes Avantage Jamie Richards 2020 Surround Stakes Probabeel Jamie Richards 2020Chipping Norton Stakes Te Akau Shark Jamie Richards 2020 Australian DerbyQuick Thinker Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman2020 All Aged Stakes Tofane Mike Moroney2020New Zealand 1000 Guineas Kahma LassJamie Richards 2021 Railway StakesAvantage Jamie Richards 2021 Thorndon MileMelody Belle Jamie Richards 2021Sistema StakesSword of StateJamie Richards2021 New Zealand OaksAmarelinha Jamie Richards 2021 Waikato Sprint Avantage Jamie Richards 2021 Otaki-Maori Weight for Age Avantage Jamie Richards 2021 New Zealand 2000 GuineasNoverreJamie Richards 2021 New Zealand 1000 GuineasThe Perfect PinkJamie Richards 2022 Railway Stakes EntriviereJamie Richards 2022Karaka Million 2YODynastic Jamie Richards 2023Railway Stakes Imperatriz Mark Walker2023Sistema StakesTokyo TycoonMark Walker2023William Reid Stakes ImperatrizMark Walker2023A J Moir Stakes ImperatrizMark Walker2023Manikato Stakes ImperatrizMark Walker2023Darley Champions SprintImperatrizMark Walker2023Zabeel ClassicCampionessaMark Walker & Sam Bergerson2024 Levin Classic Quintessa Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson2024 Black Caviar Lightning ImperatrizMark Walker2024William Reid StakesImperatrizMark Walker2026Manawatu Sires Produce StakesSeize The DayMark Walker & Sam Bergerson
See also Lisa Allpress Noel Harris Chris Johnson Lance O'Sullivan Michael Walker David Walsh Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand
References