Right here many insiders will be scoffing saying: "Yeah, but Opie doesn't waste properly." No, he doesn't, he more embraces the theory of be yourself, everyone else is taken. The fact is, he can't waste and still ride with the same brilliance that makes him our best jockey by, in racing terms, several lengths.
We've all seen jockeys wasted from food and fluid deprivation to the point their eyes are so sunken they go out and slaughter a horse. Making split second decisions on 550kg of horseflesh does not sit well alongside zero levels of fluid and blood sugar.
Some jockeys can waste better than others with dollar returns having influence. Probably the greatest ever, Lester Piggott, survived for more than two decades on little more than champagne and cigars, almost always scoffing at food.
Winx's Sydney rider Hugh Bowman, similarly brilliant at Ellerslie on Saturday, will tell you his only alcohol intake is a few beers after a Saturday meeting, but that he NEVER alters his meagre food intake. Melbourne's Brad Rawiller, like Bowman tall for a jockey, drives a car fitted out as a sauna to lose weight on the trip to the races.
Suspended jockey Jason Waddell was our guest selector for Ellerslie in the Weekend Herald. For the Karaka Million he said: "Biggest push for me in this race is Opie choosing Avantage and committing to ride 54.5kg ...". Bosson rode a picture perfect race on Melody Belle in the first, even though it was a cakewalk and he said later: "I was only a passenger." In the first million dollar race, the Karaka Million 3YO Classic, he managed to overcome Embellish's wide barrier, present him to the front at the right time in the home straight only to be run down by a phenomenal finishing burst from Scott Base.
You can only imagine how Bosson must have been feeling when legged aboard Avantage with so much depending on him. The Te Akau operation had missed the first million dollar event with Embellish and with the Karaka sale starting 22 hours later, victory was going to be everything as a promotional tool for his bosses.
Lester Piggott could not have ridden the filly better. Object achieved.
Yes, be yourself, everyone else is taken.
Congratulations.
What the jockeys said about Karaka Millon ...
1st Avantage Opie Bosson: We got a great run from the gate. I always had a lot of horse under me. When I let her go, she exploded and found the line great.
2nd Al Hasa: Hugh Bowman: Delighted with his effort. She was too good for him today but he is a nice colt for the future.
3rd Bocce: Mathew Cameron: He stuck on great. We got softened up a little but he will be better at three.
4th She's A Thief: Jake Bayliss: She was a touch slow away. She balanced up nicely, got a little lost in the straight but her last 100m was great.
5th Pinot Grey Cameron Lammas: She went great, box seated and travelled nice but just got tired late.
6th Thomas Aquinas Jonathan Riddell: He went great for such a green horse.
7th Sir Nate Masa Tanaka: He ran home great. We had to go back from the draw and he flew late.
8th Sword Of Osman Michael McNab: He ran okay. Its all probably just too much too soon for him.
9th Imelda Mary Michael Coleman: It was a nice run, she made some nice ground.
10th The Real Beel Danielle Johnson: She just couldn't sustain the blistering speed.
11th Boy Next Door Rosie Myers: He is a neat horse. His first look at Ellerslie he was a little green but he was finding the line nicely.
12th Hattie Bee Sam Spratt: She just jumped too good for her own good because she didn't have the speed to cross them. She'll be better with time.
13th Scorch Leith Innes: He has pulled up a bit sore by the looks.
Last Nirvana In Fire Samantha Collett: He just got lost up the straight and the draw didn't help. He will keep.
