Bosson reaches century milestone with Legarto at Te Rapa

A little over a year after he announced a short-lived retirement, Opie Bosson ultimately landed Group 1 win number one hundred when he partnered the Ken and Bev Kelso-trained Legarto to victory in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes at Te Rapa.

“There have been many highlights and to get the one hundredth today is right up there,” Bosson said.

“Twelve months ago, I gave up on ninety-nine and when I came back this was the main goal. I feel like I am back to riding close to my best. I am pretty happy.”

It wasn’t even the nervous nineties because Bosson was away from race riding for that seven month period when the possibility of the landmark win had temporarily been taken off the table, but it has still translated into a very long wait for Bosson to achieve this milestone which really puts a well deserved exclamation mark on an exceptional career.

Legarto, now a six-year-old, put Group 1 wins in the Australian Guineas and the New Zealand 1000 Guineas behind his name earlier in his career and he also has a previous Herbie Dyke Stakes win (also at Group 1 level) to his credit having taken out the 2024 edition of the event.

So, in terms of horse and rider, this was a case of class rising to the top.

Many had written Legarto and @opie_bosson off, but you can’t do that to Champions 🏆

Legarto takes out the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes, bringing up the 100th Group One win for Opie Bosson, aboard the Ken and Bev Kelso trained Mare.

WATCH LIVE 🎥 https://t.co/mLq6VaBqWl pic.twitter.com/d5E6gwYQUP

— Trackside NZ (@TracksideNZ) February 7, 2026