Boban has produced a spectacular performance to win the Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap at Royal Randwick Racecourse today.
The four-year-old is now unbeaten for the spring, having won the $85,000 James McCall Retirement Handicap at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse on August 31.
Boban claimed the 2013 Bill Ritchie Handicap by more than three lengths ahead of second place-getter Belltone, while Choice Brofinished the race in third.
Boban winning the 2013 Bill Ritchie Handicap. Photo: Steve Hart.
The Bernardi gelding is now an attractive pick for the Group 1 Epsom Handicap at the same track in two weeks time.
Glyn Schofield was the jockey to steer Boban to today’s Bill Ritchie Handicap win.
“He was very impressive,” Schofield said.
“It was effortless.
“His acceleration’s second to none.
“He’s definitely got some serious races in front of him and Chris (Waller) has got a nice dilemma now (over) where to send him.
Trainer Chris Waller was over the moon with Boban’s incredible Bill Ritchie Handicap win in Sydney today.
“He’s coming together at the right time,” Waller said.
“The horse is just getting confidence now.
“He’s come back a different shape of horse, and obviously a faster horse.
“We’ve just taken all possible care and we’ve made the right decision.”
Waller confirmed that Boban will go on to run in the Epsom Handicap in a fortnight, and is hoping that the galloper will draw an inside gate for the $500,000 race.
“He’ll need to settle in that. We’re just going to hope for a bit of luck when they pull the marbles out,” Waller said.
The trainer will also have Sacred Falls in the Epsom, with Shoot Out another possible contender depending on how he pulled up from his run in the George Main Stakes earlier today.
He finished at the tail end of the field and Waller will have to assess both the horse and race footage before deciding how to proceed.
“We’ll see how Shoot Out’s pulled up,” he said.
Boban has now won five of his 15 race starts and has earned more than $295,000 in prize money during his horse racing career.
