Racing: It's all apples with Opie

Jockey Opie Bosson will make his return to raceday-riding at Hastings tomorrow. Photo / Trish Dunell

Everything's apples with Opie Bosson ahead of his comeback to race-riding at Hastings tomorrow.

The champion hoop had just finished his daily workout and was munching on an apple when New Zealand Racing Desk caught up with him yesterday.

It's clear Bosson is ripe for his return, he's eating properly and has lost 10 kilograms in the past five weeks after admitting he let his weight get away on him during his winter recess.

He attributes his return to riding weight to the encouragement of David Ellis, the boss of Te Akau Racing, to whom Bosson is a retained rider.

"After Melody Belle won on the first day at Hastings, I met with Dave and we sat down and sorted out a programme," Bosson said.

"So now I'm riding trackwork then working out with a personal trainer and then working on the farm during the day. I'm eating properly and I've lost 10 kilos from that first day.
I'm feeling really good."

Bosson admits it was frustrating watching Te Akau's glamour mare Melody Belle win the group one Tarzino Trophy (1400m) and the group one Windsor Park Plate (1600m) at Hastings without him aboard but at the same time was rapt for successful jockey Shafiq Rusof.

"It was a little frustrating because it would have been me had I not let my weight go but it was good to see Shafiq get those wins. He's a top-class rider and he deserves every success," Bosson said.

A winner of 60 group one races, Bosson heads to Hastings to ride the Jamie Richards-trained Our Abbadean in the group one Livamol Classic (2040m) and his most recent group one winner Sword Of Osman in the group two Sacred Falls Hawke's Bay Guineas (1400m).

"I thought Our Abbadean was one of the runs of the race [for fifth in the Windsor Park Plate]. She came from last and got held up making her run," Bosson said.

"Stepping up to 2000m now is ideal. I've been riding her in work and she's been working well. She's bounced through that last race really well."

Bosson said Sword Of Osman's trackwork gallops have been even better.

"He's working outstanding but we just don't know about his last run. He was too disappointing to be true so we'll just have to see how he goes on Saturday."

Bosson has taken two other rides at Hastings, Quaff and Irish Flame, both for New Plymouth trainer John Wheeler.

- NZ Racing Desk