Season may be over for ailing top jockey
Ace jockey Opie Bosson is unlikely to ride again this season.
Bosson was stood down at Doomben on Saturday after just one ride aboard the Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards-trained Heroic Valour.
Doctors have told Bosson he was suffering a viral infection in his chest and he will now lay low for the next few weeks to recover.
‘‘I felt terrible. It was disappointing to miss those rides but there was no way I could have ridden,’’ said Bosson.
He has a holiday booked next month before he resumes in the new season when he will chase a second Group I Caulfield Cup victory aboard New Zealand Derby winner Gingernuts.
Victorious in Group I races on both sides of the Tasman as well as success in Hong Kong earlier in the season, Bosson rode 52 domestic winners for stake earnings of $2,341,705 during the 2016-17.
Meanwhile, Saturday’s Group II Brisbane Cup winner Chocante has returned to New Zealand for a short break before a spring carnival campaign across the Tasman.
‘‘The horse is home now and hopefully it’s all guns blazing for Melbourne in the spring,’’ said Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh. Raced by Wellington friends Mark Freeman and David Price, Chocante is a lightly-raced son of Shocking and has earned in excess of $300,000 in prizemoney.
‘‘It was great to have the owners over there and we celebrated a bit. It was a huge thrill and a great race to win,’’ Marsh said.
‘‘There are a few options for Chocante in the spring and we’re certainly not ruling out heading to Sydney first. ❚ NZ Racing Desk