Boban Prevails in Spirited Memsie Finish
Description:
Trainer Chris Waller's star sprinter-miler Boban dug down in the closing stages and prevailed in a tight three-horse finish in the New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (Aus-I) Aug. 29 at Caulfield.
The 6-year-old son of Darley's Central Kentucky-based shuttler Bernardini edged C.F. Orr (Aus-I) runner-up Entirely Platinum by a short head, with Stratum Star a nose back in third in the 15-horse field for Australia's first group I race of the 2015-16 season. Last season, Waller's runners landed 14 group I races.
With Glyn Schofield aboard, Boban covered 1,400 meters (about seven furlongs) in 1:24.61. Sent off the favorite, despite concerns the soft turf course would be problematic, he handled the less-than-ideal surface with aplomb, settling three back early then coming off the rail around the turn to rally. He won in a driving finishing and added a fifth top-level victory to his record.
Campaigned by a partnership, Boban closed last season with a runner-up finish to Srikandi in the AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (Aug-I) after taking the Doomben 10,000 (Aus-I) in May, snapping a nine-race winless stretch. He has 11 wins from 33 career starts that also includes group I victories in the 2013 Epsom Handicap and Emirates Cantala Stakes, and 2014 Chipping Norton Stakes. He has more than AUS$2.7 million in earnings.
Bred in Australia by Tony Thomas, his dam, by Kenmare, is 1996 AJC Oaks (Aus-I) winner Kenbelle, who was recently named Queensland Broodmare of the Year.