Bosson cleared to resume riding

[Wandering Eyes]

After an extended stand-down from riding due to concussion, leading jockey Opie Bosson has been cleared to resume duties in time for an important Group One date.

Bosson was sidelined at the Avondale race meeting on November 6 after being unseated while pulling up on one of his mounts. He was subsequently diagnosed with concussion and had to comply with standard protocols before being able to get back in the saddle.

He was cleared to begin trackwork duties on Monday and on Wednesday gained a full clearance, which while too late for him to ride this weekend, will allow several days to prepare fully for an important date at Trentham next Saturday.

On the same day 12 months ago Bosson took his tally of Group One wins to 99 when successful on Ladies Man in the TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m).

Completing a century of Group One wins has been anything but straightforward for the hugely talented jockey, whose career has had multiple interruptions due mainly to his battle with weight.

That all came home to roost last Christmas when Bosson announced that he had decided to cease riding, but after nearly eight months the urge again became too great and he resumed his career at the start of the season.

His newfound enthusiasm resulted in a rare lead on the jockeys’ table, but he has since been passed by fellow Matamata rider Craig Grylls, who is making no race of a second consecutive premiership with 46 wins.

Bosson still holds equal second place with Joe Doyle on 28 wins, but the momentum built by Grylls is formidable, especially with the added advantage of being able to ride at a much lighter weight than Bosson and other rivals.

“Opie’s just happy to be cleared to ride again and get back into it, so he’ll take a couple of rides at Rotorua next Wednesday and that should set him up nicely for Trentham on Saturday,” said Bosson’s agent, former leading jockey Michael Coleman, who also manages Grylls’ rides.

The mount Bosson is most looking forward to at Trentham is Captured By Love, who was confirmed for the TAB Classic after finishing second to big-race rival Legarto in a trial ahead of racing at Te Aroha on Wednesday.

After her return to form in the Gr. 3 Windsor Park Stud Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton three weeks ago, Captured By Love is rated a $9 chance on the TAB Classic futures market.

“Legarto won well but our mare did all we wanted; it was a tidy gallop and will have cleaned her up nicely for Trentham,” co-trainer Sam Bergerson said.

“It’s shaping to be a very good field, but we’re looking forward to having Opie back on top. He doesn’t need any incentive, just having him back in action is enough, but it would be quite something to see him get his 100^th Group One.”

View the full article