KEY POINTS:
Opie Bosson says he's made one bad mistake since leaving New Zealand at the start of the season - riding work in Ireland.
A few weeks ago when Bosson made the decision to leave Singapore to return to New Zealand to ride for his old bosses at Te
Akau Racing Stables, he decided to spend Christmas with some mates in Ireland.
"I felt I was halfway around the world from New Zealand anyway, so I thought I'd take the opportunity of having my first look at Ireland."
It looked a good idea in theory.
But the practicality of going from the extreme heat of Singapore straight into the freezing temperatures of mid-winter Ireland proved to be a big mistake.
"I rode work one morning - never again. I froze. You've got no idea how cold I was."
That apart, Bosson said he enjoyed his time in Ireland.
"The bars are so homely."
Bosson said he enjoyed his time in Singapore, but two approaches by Te Akau boss David Ellis late last year proved too powerful to resist so he made the decision to cut his Singapore contract short.
He says he would like to return to ride in Singapore at some point.
"I enjoyed Singapore, but inevitably you always start to miss living in New Zealand."
He arrived on Friday and was immediately back riding work at Matamata.
Bosson had his first Singapore ride on September 7 and went on to kick home 10 winners, including the Singapore Cup on Recast for ex-New Zealand trainer Laurie Laxon.
"I rode a lot for Laurie and for Bruce Marsh."
Bosson found Singapore's heat a big help in keeping his weight under control, which has at times been a real issue for the rider most consider New Zealand's best.
"I rode 54kg when I won the Cup, but overall I generally wasn't required to ride at less than 55kg or 55.5kg."
Bosson says he'll be riding at 55.5kg when he resumes his local career at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Bosson and Te Akau have enjoyed a highly successful association, having served his apprentice in the Te Akau stable under Stephen Autridge.
One of the great wins they have combined for was Darci Brahma's group one Telegraph Handicap at Trentham.
Grant Cooksley has yet again decided to delay his return to race riding.
Cooksley, injured earlier last year, had hoped to be back for the Trentham meeting, but that now looks unlikely.