Triple Group 1 winner Boban is on track to return to racing in the 2015 Doomben 10,000 on May 23 after he won a barrier trial at Warwick Farm this morning.
Boban (pictured winning the 2014 Chipping Norton Stakes) found a barrier trial this morning ahead of the 2015 Doomben 10,000 next weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Boban contested the opening trial of the morning over 1200 metres and he was surprisingly quick out of the gates with regular jockey Glyn Schofield in the saddle.
Schofield elected to settle Boban in the middle of the barrier trial field in the early stages, while there was plenty of early speed after Retort Courteous put the pressure on stablemate Replay Churlish in the early stages.
Boban track into the barrier trial nicely and he was in a lovely position behind the leading pair as they entered the straight before he was revved up by Schofield at the 200 metre mark.
The son of Bernardini took a while to respond, but he picked up nicely in the final 100 metres to pull clear from the rest of the field and record a comfortable victory from Sons Of John and Reply Churlish.
Boban started his 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on January 31 and he was never able to get into the race after he missed the start before he produced an improved effort when seventh behind Contributer in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on February 14.
Schofield was bullish about the chances of Boban heading into the Chipping Norton Stakes, a race that he won 12 months earlier, but the five-year-old produced one of the poorest performances of his racing career to date to finish 14th and beat home just a single runner.
Trainer Chris Waller elected to send Boban for a stint in the spelling paddock following his Chipping Norton Stakes flop and set him for both the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m) at Doomben on May 23 and Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at the same venue on June 6; with the enigmatic gelding chasing his first race win since he upstaged It’s A Dundeel to win the 2014 edition of the Chipping Norton Stakes and his third overall Group 1 victory following his triumphs in the 2013 Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) and the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m).
Boban is currently available at 2015 Doomben 10,000 odds of $26 with Ladbrokes, while BTC Cup flop Srikandi ($7.50) remains a narrow favourite from unlikely starter Lucky Hussler ($8), BTC Cup placegetter Our Boy Malachi ($8.50), Godolphin sprinter Generalife ($9.50) and BTC Cup runner-up Knoydart ($10).
