Horse Racing: Biggest race of the year Karaka Million missing star jockey Opie Bosson

Ellerslie Racecourse will once again host the country's richest annual sporting event - the Karaka Million race night on Saturday. 

There will be $2 million features on show for the capacity crowd, but New Zealand racing's night-of-nights will be missing its biggest star.

Champion jockey Opie Bosson - who is the undisputed 'King of the Karaka Million' - is suspended for Saturday's race, leaving Te Akau Racing chasing five wins in a row without their prized asset.

Opie Bosson earned his title piloting the winner of the prestigious two-year-old feature for the last four straight years. 

"Hopefully these jockeys can step up and ride as good as him because as the boys get paid say, there's only one Opie Bosson but we need to find a new one this year," sole trainer for Te Akau Racing in New Zealand Jamie Richards says.  

Te Akau have five chances in this year's race, with the favourite Millefiori to be ridden by the premiership's leading rider, Danielle Johnson.

"I'm super excited leading into Saturday and I'm really looking forward to getting on Millefiori," Johnson says. "She is a real winner and she showed that in her first two starts."

Johnson will also ride Amarelinha - the favourite in the other million-dollar race on the card - the three-year-old Karaka Million Classic and she has the confidence of Te Akau boss, David Ellis.

"We've got an absolute champion jockey in Danielle Johnson and she's so far in front in the premiership, it's daylight to second," Ellis says.

The big question of the night will be, what will the crowds sing if she wins? 

"I don't know if there is a good enough chant for that, I think the Opie Bosson one is the best," Johnson says. I'm sure they'll make one up for the jockey that's deserving of it."

Richards added: "I'm sure Danielle won't mind if they're singing there's only one Danielle Johnson at the end of the night." 

With the King forced to abdicate, the Queen is ready to take the throne at the Karaka Million.

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