Racing: Bosson rides his 1000th winner on

Opie Bosson. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

Waikato horseman Opie Bosson, the latest jockey to make New Zealand's 1000 winners' club, just wants to keep riding winners.

He became the 22nd jockey to notch the figure in New Zealand when he kicked home the Bryce Revell-trained I Am Sam at New Plymouth on Saturday, one of three winners for the day.

He has been in a rich vein of form this season, with 116 winners, including four group ones, two of them coming in the guineas double by Katie Lee at Canterbury in November.

He had his first win on Fairlie Airlie at Gisborne on November 17, 1995, trained by his boss at the time, Stephen Autridge, and quickly made his mark on the industry, setting a record 128 wins as an apprentice during the 1997-98 season.

The following season, while still an apprentice, he won the group one VRC Oaks at Flemington on Grand Archway.

Bosson, 29, admits he should have reached 1000 winners earlier, but enforced layoffs, mainly through his battles with weight and a four-month disqualification when he provided Bruce Herd with a urine sample in 2008, held him back.

His weight is stable these days and he attributes that to a more balanced lifestyle than some of his earlier years. Bosson said Princess Coup's win in the 2008 Kelt Stakes for trainer Mark Walker was a career highlight.

The gallant mare easily accounted for her rivals. "It was a race where everything went to plan leading up to the race and on the day itself."

His goal for the future is simple. "I just want to keep on riding winners and getting group ones."

In addition to his 1000 New Zealand wins, Bosson has chalked up more than 100 victories in Australia, Singapore and Macau.

The other 21 jockeys to ride 1000 New Zealand winners are Lance O'Sullivan, Bill Skelton, David Peake, David Walsh, Bob Skelton, Noel Harris, Jim Collett, Bill Broughton, Grenville Hughes, Chris Johnson, Garry Phillips, Peter Johnson, Gary Grylls, Bill Ellis, Maurice Campbell, Paul Richards, Michael Coleman, Darryl Bradley, Bruce Herd, Michael Walker and Hayden Tinsley.

- NZPA