A summer holiday in Spain is beckoning champion jockey Opie Bosson but he’s not letting himself think about that too much until after Saturday’s Q22 at Eagle Farm.
Bosson admitted he was really looking forward to reuniting with his family in Barcelona on Sunday but said his focus was firmly on getting the best out of Group One winner The Chosen One in his final race before he begins stud duties at Waikato’s Highview Stud.
Having ridden the Andrew Forsman-trained Savabeel entire into fifth placing in last month’s Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2100m) at Eagle Farm, Bosson was keen to continue his association with the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) winner in the $A1.2 million Q22.
“It was a good run in the Doomben Cup. He got held up a bit but he really hit the line well. He really ran through the line and I was keen to ride him again in this one,” Bosson said.
“He’ll be a good chance. The draw (barrier nine) is a bit awkward but if he can get a soft enough run, he’s got to be in contention. He felt great the other day. He’s got a great nature about him and it would be great to see him go out on a winning note.”
It was announced earlier this week that Highview Stud had secured The Chosen One for stud duties, setting his first-year service fee at $4,000 plus GST.
A winner of seven of his 42 starts, The Chosen One has been a perennial Group One performer on both sides of the Tasman, placing in a Sydney Cup (3200m) and a Caulfield Cup (2400m) as well as winning the Gr.2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield and a Gr.3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick.
Despite a longstanding association with the stable, the Doomben Cup was Bosson’s first ride on The Chosen One, who might be the jockey’s last ride for the season.
“I ride in Brisbane on Saturday then fly to Barcelona that night,” he said. “Emily and Max (wife and son) are in England at the moment and we’ll meet in Spain on Sunday. We’ll have a bit of a holiday and then I’ll be back to get ready for the new season.”
A winning brace at Matamata on Wednesday on the Mark Walker-trained She’s A Showoff and Millefiori took Bosson’s season win tally to 56, among those Group One wins aboard Noverre in the NZ 2000 Guineas (1600m) and The Perfect Pink in the NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton, Entriviere in the Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie and Imperatriz in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa.
“I had a late start with the COVID lockdowns and me being based in the Auckland region but it all ended up going pretty well. Dynastic’s win in the Karaka Million and Imperatriz winning the Breeders’ Stakes at Te Rapa were probably the main highlights, with the latter the only Group One race in New Zealand that I hadn’t previously won.”
Bosson was keen to have his fitness and weight honed for the new season, which he hoped would see him partner the likes of Imperatriz and Entriviere in Melbourne.
“It would be nice to get over there and have a crack. With New Zealand’s COVID lockdowns, I’ve missed out on a fair bit in Australia. I enjoy riding at the carnivals over there so hopefully I can get back there.
“I want to make sure I’m back in good time to start getting the weight off in time for the new season. There’s plenty to look forward to, especially with Imperatriz and Dynastic – I think he’s going to be a cracking three-year-old.”
