Boban Bounces Back to Win Doomben 10,000
Description:
Boban unleashed his trademark finishing kick, and just edged Charlie Boy and Generalife, in a thrilling finish in the Doomben 10,000 (Aus-I) May 23.
Pacesetter Time for War led into the stretch, but the race was still wide open as Charlie Boy and Generalife swooped from well back, and Boban burst through with Glyn Schofield down the center of the track. The trio drew well clear of the field and crossed the finish line in a near blanket finish.
Boban won by a long neck, with Charlie Boy second and Generalife three-quarters of a length third after a wide trip throughout. Knoydart was three lengths back in fourth. Favorite Srikandi was sixth.
A 5-year-old son of Darley's Central Kentucky-based Bernardini trained by Chris Waller, Boban earned his fourth group I win and 10th victory overall from 31 career starts, while pushing his earnings just over Aus$2 million with the Aus$480,000 winner's share. Last season, he won the Epsom Handicap, Emirates Cantala Stakes, and Chipping Norton Stakes, all elite-level events.
Boban's time for the Doomben 10,000's 1,350 meters (about 6 1/2 furlongs) was 1:19.15 on good turf.
The 16-horse field included German-bred Flamingo Star, a son of Areion, who finished eighth in his Australian debut, while racing less than a mile for the first time.
Boban snapped a nine-race winless stretch with Saturday's win. Waller conceded post race that his runner now had to be placed carefully, and praised regular rider Schofield, who has struck up a great partnership with, at times, a difficult horse.
Bred in Australia by Tony Thomas, Boban is out of 1996 AJC Oaks (Aus-I) winner Kenbelle, by Kenmare. He is campaigned by a partnership group.
The Doomben 10,000 completed a group double on the card for Bernardini, who will stand the 2015 Southern Hemisphere season at Darley Kelvinside. Earlier on Saturday, his 5-year-old daughter Peace Force won the Glenlogan Park Stakes (Aus-III).