Champion jockey Opie Bosson will miss all three days of the New Zealand Cup Carnival in Christchurch after a fall at Avondale on Thursday.
Bosson rode Karyon into a fourth placing in the Avondale Main Street Rating 60 (1200m), but was dislodged after the finish line when his mount abruptly ducked outwards while pulling up. He was stood down for the remainder of the Avondale card and now faces a longer stint on the sidelines.
“He went to the doctor this morning and unfortunately didn’t pass his concussion test,” Bosson’s manager Michael Coleman said. “That means an automatic stand-down of 12 days, and he’ll need to pass another test before he gets clearance to resume riding.”
Bosson had a strong book of rides for the opening day of the carnival at Riccarton on Saturday, including the impressive last-start Ellerslie winner Belle Cheval, who is the $6 equal second favourite for the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm 53rd New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).
Bosson was also due to ride Captured By Love in the Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), Beavertown Boy in the Listed Nautical Boat Insurance Metropolitan Trophy (2600m), and Peekay, Insatiable, Noivern, Cognoscenti and Vivacious on the undercard.
“It’s hugely disappointing, especially for a jockey of his calibre, and especially for it to happen now and rule him out of such a great week of racing,” Coleman said. “It’s really bad luck, and I feel for the connections he was going to ride for, such as Te Akau. We thought we had a very good chance in the 1000 Guineas with Belle Cheval.
“But it’s the nature of the game. I had a number of setbacks like these myself in my own riding career, and it’s just one of those things that happens. All we can do is hope that he makes a quick recovery, passes that next test and can get back to doing what he does best.”
Sam Weatherley will take over the mount on Belle Cheval, with Bruno Queiroz is booked for Captured By Love and Rory Hutchings replaces Bosson on Beavertown Boy.
Bosson, who temporarily retired from race riding last season, has made an impressive return to the saddle this spring. He sits in second on the New Zealand premiership with 28 wins from 134 rides, narrowly trailing Craig Grylls (31 wins from 181 rides).