Four-time Group 1 winner Boban has impressed onlookers with his fast-finishing effort in a barrier trial at Rosehill Gardens this morning.
Boban was the standout performer in the fourth barrier trial at Rosehill Gardens this morning. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Boban contested the fourth barrier trial of the morning over 900 metres and he was settled towards the tail of the field by jockey Glyn Schofield while Heart Testa and Bounding took up the running in the early stages.
Heart Testa and Bounding cleared away from the rest of the field to fight out the finish in the barrier trial, but Boban absolutely leapt out of the ground in the final stages to make up plenty of ground to finish third despite being kept under a very heavy hold.
Boban was making his first public appearance since his successful 2015 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival campaign where he claimed a first-up victory in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m) at Doomben on May 23 before he finished a gallant second behind Srikandi in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben on June 6.
Trainer Chris Waller is yet to decide on the exact path that Boban will follow during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival, but the six-year-old could resume in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on August 22.
Heart Testa showed his trademark early speed to take up the running in the early stages of the barrier trial and he did enough in the final stages to hold-off Bounding and claim victory.
The Testa Rossa gelding was making his first public appearance since he failed to fire in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 18, but he was able to upstage the likes of Driefontein and Territory to take out the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on February 14.
Bounding was the other standout performer in the fourth barrier trial of the morning and she found the line well in her first public appearance since she finished second behind Vain Queen in the Group 3 Mumm Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Crown Oaks Day.
The Lonhro mare has since joined the stable of Team Snowden and could be given another opportunity at the highest level of racing in events like the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 23.
Team Hawkes-trained Messene found the line fairly in the second barrier trial of his preparation and he remains a chance of returning to the races in the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
