Exciting I Am Invincible 2YO Brings Up Milestone for Bosson

Tara Madgwick - Sunday December 17

Anode was not the only exciting debut winning two year-old by I Am Invincible on Saturday with Te Akau Racing unleashing $525,000 Magic Millions purchase Move to Strike for a thoroughly impressive debut victory that brought up a career milestone for Opie Bosson.

Opie Bosson after gaining a 2000th New Zealand victory aboard Move To Strike. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Commentator George Simon summed up what many were thinking at the finish of the first race at Te Rapa when he uttered the well-known catch cry ‘there’s only one Opie Bosson’.

Bosson had just guided the raging hot favourite Move To Strike ($1.35) to a seemingly effortless debut victory over 1100m, in the process lodging win number 2000 in New Zealand in a superlative career where he has been readily acknowledged as one of the very best to grace a saddle.

The 43-year-old was typically understated when questioned about his achievement, preferring to shower praise upon the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained colt who he believes could prove to be a very special horse in the future.

Opie Bosson after gaining a 2000th New Zealand victory aboard Move To Strike. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

“That was pretty cool really,” Bosson said.

“I knew he was the horse I could get it (2000 wins) on today and to do it for David (Ellis) and the whole Te Akau Racing team is just an extra bonus.

“Any milestone in a career is good and it is an elite club to be a part of.

“I think this horse is a superstar in the making.

“He just has the right attitude and you would think he has been doing this for years.

“He takes things in his stride and there are better things to come.”

Co-trainer Mark Walker shares a similar opinion of the son of I Am Invincible, who was purchased by Te Akau Racing boss David Ellis for $525,000 at the Gold Coast earlier this year from the Baramul Stud draft and had been unbeaten in three trials prior to his first outing on raceday.

Advertisement

Move to Strike was a $525,000 Magic Millions purchase.

Bred on the exact same cross as Te Akau’s champion mare Imperatriz, who is also by I Am Invincible from a daughter of Shamardal (USA), Move to Strike is a half-brother to Group II placed Discharged and is the sixth winner from seven foals to race from Group II winner No Evidence Needed.

Westbury Stud will offer a Zoustar colt from No Evidence Needed at Magic Millions this year as Lot 1008.

“The colt is such an amazing customer with such a good brain on him, we think he has a big future,” Mark Walker  said.”

Walker suggested Move To Strike may contest the $225,000 Eclipse Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) on 1 January at Pukekohe, while also on the radar is the A$2m Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) on 24 February at Caulfield.

He also paid tribute to Bosson who commenced his association with Walker and Te Akau Racing as an apprentice back in the late 1990’s.

“This will give him (Bosson) a real thrill and it is quite an achievement for someone who has struggled with his weight throughout his career,” he said.

“He won on Integrate for us when he was a 16-year-old and he had a postage stamp as a saddle and to still be there after all these years is a real credit to him.

“It was good for him to do it on such an exciting horse and one he has thought a lot of for some time.”

Bosson, who has constantly battled weight issues during a career that commenced in 1995 with a win at Gisborne when he was a fifteen-year-old apprentice, becomes the eighth member of the 2000-win club with other riders to have achieved the rare feat being Chris Johnson, David Walsh, Lance O’Sullivan, Noel Harris, David Peake, Bill Skelton and Michael Coleman.

He was named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for his contribution to the thoroughbred industry in June this year. - LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - ICIB Brokerweb 2yo 1100m

Te Rapa Track: Good(4) Time: 1:04.13
1
Move To Strike
- 2c I Am Invincible (AUS) x No Evidence Needed (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: O P Bosson 57
2
4.8
Montana Bay
- 2g Thunder Down Under (AUS) x Monarch (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: S Ralph Rdr: Joe Doyle 57
3
5
Force Of Law
- 2c War Decree (USA) x Back Date (NZ) (Zacinto (GB))
Tnr: M Moroney & P Gerard Rdr: N S Parmar 56
NZB Ready To Run Sale $0
Seller: BMD Bloodstock
Buyer:
NZB Karaka Book 1 $100,000
Seller: Inglewood Stud
Buyer: BMD Bloodstock Ltd / S Mynott / Ed Stapleton Bloodstock
4
9.3
Cognoscenti
- 2g Castelvecchio (AUS) x Irish Goodbye (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: M Cameron 57
5
12.8
Sure To Please
- 2g Ferrando (NZ) x Remember The Goal (NZ) (Burgundy (NZ))
Tnr: Team Rogerson Rdr: K Asano 57
6
13.1
About Last Night
- 2f Capitalist (AUS) x Kissmelikearocksta (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: W B Kennedy 56
7
14.3
Ka Pai Kiwi
- 2f Better Than Ready (AUS) x Just Like Jessie (AUS) (All Too Hard (AUS))
Tnr: Team Rogerson Rdr: D J Danis 55
8
17.5
Lady Lizzo
- 2f Eminent (IRE) x Jasminetta (NZ) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: L Te Keeti Rdr: U A Holmquist 55
More Reading...
2025 G1 Epsom Handicap Field and Barrier Draw
The field and barrier draw has been decided for the Group I Epsom Handicap on Saturday with odds-on favourite and unbeaten mare Autumn Glow drawing the extreme outside gate in a field of 14.
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.
Goffs Orby Day 2 - Trio of Million Dollar Yearling Fillies
The second day of the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale took off overnight with three individual yearlings selling for a million or more with the full sister to dual Group I winning champion 2YO Colt Blackbeard selling for €1.9 million to MV Magnier.
Kiwi Raider Pier Upbeat Ahead of Epsom
Co-trainer and part-owner Darryn Weatherley is taking a glass half full approach ahead of Saturday’s Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) after he came up with an awkward wide gate for Pier.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 30
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Almanzor Mare Chasing More Black Type
Group Two performer Mary Shan will be in search of an elusive stakes victory when she heads south to Hawera on Saturday where she will contest the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).
Swettenham Stud Delighted with Lofty Strike Foals
Swettenham Stud are delighted with the growing buzz of excitement surrounding the first foals for young gun sire Lofty Strike.
2025 G1 The Metropolitan Field and Barrier Draw
Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher are set to have half of the Group I Metropolitan field between them with the Waller trained Birdman an easing favourite after drawing a wide gate for Saturday’s race.
First I Am Invincible G1 Winning 2YO - Move To Strike To Lovatsville
Seymour Bloodstock, Te Akau Racing  and emerging Victorian Stallion Station, Lovatsville, are pleased to announce that Move To Strike (I Am Invincible ex. No Excuse Needed) will stand this coming season at the Seymour Park-based stud Lovatsville for a fee of $16,500 (incl. GST). 
Magic Trials at Caulfield Heath
Early season two-year-olds will step out this Thursday, 2 October, at the Caulfield Spring Trials presented by Magic Millions, with 800m 2YO heats following the opening trial for Group performers at 7:30am on the Caulfield Heath.