2015 Memsie Stakes Results: Boban Wins Fifth Group 1

Enigmatic galloper Boban snuck up on the inside rail to record his fifth Group 1 win in the 2015 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield this afternoon.

Boban was settled in the middle of the field in the early stages of the Memsie Stakes and he looked like he might be blocked for a run coming into the straight, but a number of other jockeys elected to come off the rail in the last 200 metres.

Stratum Star and Entirely Platinum looked as though they were going to fight out the finish in the Memsie Stakes, but Boban exploded in the final stages of the race to get his nose in front in the shadows of the post.

Jockey Glyn Schofield has steered Boban to victory in all five of his wins at the highest level of racing and the veteran hoop was absolutely delighted to claim another race win on his favourite galloper.

“He is just a super horse,” Schofield said.

“Chris has done a super job.

“He gave me a super ride today and I ended up a lot further forward than I anticipated, but he found himself there without any effort and in the last 100 metres he lifted.

“He saw where the winning post was and he wanted to get there.

“It was a fantastic effort.

“He is not at his best on shifty ground especially with a little bit of rain on race day, but it just shows what a top horse he is.”

Chris Waller’s stable foreperson Justine Hales put the polish on Boban after he arrived in Melbourne and she was confident in the lead-up to the race that the Bernardini gelding could get the job done in the Memsie Stakes.

Hales admitted after the race that she thought the wet track would be a concern for Boban, but she was thrilled with the way that the five-time Group 1 winner was able to accelerate in the final stages of the race.

“He snuck up the rail and he was lucky that they all peeled off and he had some room,” Hales said.

“He never looked like he was really liking the track much and it took him a while to find his feet in the straight, but he has a big heart and a will to win.

“He is very tough, he tries and he gives his all all the time.’

Boban has been included in the 2015 Epsom Handicap nominations, but she said that the stable did not have any firm plans with the six-year-old during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival and he is set to return to Sydney on Sunday night.

“He is heading back up to Rosehill tomorrow night,” Hales said.

“There isn’t really much in his distance range down here at the moment, so I am sure that he has a plan set for him.

“He will space his runs out and he will go back up there.

“He is a lot bigger horse than he used to be, but he does run very well fresh and he keeps himself fresh.”

Entirely Platinum replicated his performance from the Orr Stakes earlier in the year to finish second

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.