It was like he had never been away.
Closing on eight months after announcing his shock retirement, jockey Opie Bosson was back in the saddle at Taupo on Saturday, doing what he does best … riding four winners on the card.
Bosson rode a treble for Te Akau Racing’s Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson and also brought home a winner for the Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott stable.
Last month Te Akau announced Bosson’s return for the new season with Bosson confirming that he was ready to take up the challenge anew.
“Stepping back from race-day riding gave me the time to take stock of everything,” said Bosson. but riding trackwork every day, working with this new crop of horses at Te Akau and getting fitter than I’ve been in years, I’ve rediscovered how much I love it.
“We’ve got a stunning team of horses coming through for the new season – one of the best I’ve seen in a long time – and being a part of their development has made me want to be there on race day too.
“I understand some might be surprised by the decision. But for me, it’s come from a place of genuine passion and purpose. I’m serious about it.”
When you retire while still at the top of your game, with ninety-nine Group 1 winners behind your name, a case could always be made that there was some unfinished business still left to take care of.
For Opie Bosson, that was a factor he recognised at the time when he made his retirement call, but there was a simple, totally justifiable reason for him making that decision which shocked a lot of people, as Bosson explains.
“I was really trying try to get to another Karaka Millions and I wanted to get to one hundred Group 1 wins, but my mind just wasn’t there … and when your mind and heart is not there you are not doing your horses justice or your owners or the trainers … so I thought it was time.”
But times change for all of us. Sometimes all you need is some time away from an often stifling routine to assess things … and that is exactly what Bosson has been able to do.
“I’ve taken the time, I’ve done the work and I know I’m ready,” said Bosson.
I’m coming back because I love the industry. I love the horses and I still have goals I want to achieve.”
Chief of those will be Group 1 win number one hundred which, all things being equal, will most likely arrive in the Te Akau colours … and you would guess, sooner rather than later.
When that happens, whatever else he achieves along the way, that landmark Group 1 win will, in its own right, make Bosson’s decision to come out of retirement well worthwhile.
