Bosson Hoping to Escape Severe Suspension

New Zealand’s champion jockey Opie Bosson is appealing a suspension which has robbed him of two leading Group One rides and a chance of winning a fifth straight $1m Doubletree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m). According to racingnews.co.nz, Bosson was suspended on careless riding charges stemming from his rides on third-placed Sword Of State in the Gr2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) and on the unplaced Illusion Of Paris in the Gr2 Royal Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day. His suspension began after racing on January 4 and ends after racing on January 28. Bosson's agent Aidan Rodley said the jockey was appealing the penalty only: "Opie was satisfied he received an entirely fair hearing on both charges but we feel the suspension, which rules him out of four big-money weekend meetings, is too harsh.” Bosson was booked to ride the favourites in two Group 1 races at Trentham on January 16 – Avantage in the JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m) and Brando in the Levin Classic (1600m) – and had leading chances for Matamata trainer Jamie Richards in both the Karaka Million 2YO and the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on January 23. An appeal date has not yet been set.

Bosson won aboard Avantage in 1 Jan's Gr1 Sistema Stakes (pic: NZB)