Titles have come thick and fast for Opie Bosson throughout his illustrious riding career, but even the champion Kiwi jockey didn’t see his latest one coming.
Bosson, 42, has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the King’s Birthday Honours for services to thoroughbred racing.
“It was a little bit of a shock when I got the email but it’s quite an honour really - to be recognised for the achievements on the track and on the horse," Bosson told Newshub.
"It's pretty cool."
Over his racing career, Bosson has won 91 Group 1 races in New Zealand as well as various Group 1 races internationally. His wins include the Karaka Million six times, the Auckland Cup, Australian Oaks, The Caufield Cup, Australian Derby, Singapore Derby, and the Singapore Gold Cup across nearly three decades of riding.
"I've been in it since I was 14 years old and it's been good to me. I've had a lot of success, met a lot of great people, and met some really good friends.
"I've been honoured to be a part of it."
"There's been a few ups and downs along the way but there's been a lot more ups, that's for sure.
"There's nothing better than winning a Group One race, or any race to be fair, but those big Group Ones, the big races, are so much more special."
While many top level jockeys test themselves in Australia and Hong Kong, Bosson has spent the majority of his career in New Zealand, regularly crossing the Tasman to partner the country's premier horses in Australia's Group 1 scene.
"I love New Zealand. I love the farm life, I don't like the cities too much and when I'm not racing, I can come back to the farm, clear the mind, and don't have to think about racing at all.
"I just love the sport. I love riding in a race and the bigger the race, the more I like to ride to the occasion."
Bosson lists Melody Belle, Te Akau Shark, Mongolian Khan, Turn Me Loose and Probabeel among his favourite horses who he's partnered over the course of his career, but the win that stands out above the rest is his 2015 Caulfield Cup win aboard Mongolian Khan.
"There was a lot of preparation going into that race… Murray Baker had the horse spot on for the Caulfield Cup, and we were very very confident going into the race and everything just seemed to work out."
Bosson expects his contemporaries in the jockeys room will give him plenty of stick for the honour, but he singled out two of his mentors - Stephen Autridge and David Ellis - for praise, after learning his career would be officially recognised.
"Stephen Autridge is my godfather and he was my boss throughout my apprenticeship.
"David Ellis or Te Akau Racing has been a big inspiration to me. He’s like a second dad really.. When things are down I can go to him and we always sit down, have a talk, and work things out."
Bosson says he hopefully has "three or four" years left riding, and has a couple of major goals he'd like to tick off, before he hangs up the saddle for good.
"I'd love to get to 100 Group Ones, and maybe 104 to try and beat Jimmy Cassidy's record."
