Legendary Hong Kong based jockey Douglas Whyte will be the key to Boban’s success in the Group 1 $500,000 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Hong Kong jockey Douglas Whyte will ride Boban, above, in the C.F. Orr Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Five times Group 1 winner Boban has drawn awkwardly at barrier thirteen in the capacity eighteen horse field but trainer Chris Waller is relying on White’s expertise to overcome that early obstacle.
“We will need Dougie Whyte from barrier thirteen,” Waller said.
Waller has great respect for the top line Hong Kong jockeys, especially thirteen times Hong Kong premiership winning rider Whyte.
“One thing I know about Hong Kong jockeys, they are great from the barriers, good tacticians,” Waller said.
Waller can’t see Boban getting any closer to the fence than three wide, but he will be happy to see Whyte nursing him midfield before making his move approaching the home turn.
“I figure he will be three wide midfield. It won’t be such a bad place to be. The horse is going terrific and it is a Group 1 race for him,” Waller said.
“He will be there, he won’t be far away.”
Boban is chasing his sixth Group 1 win and his last two wins at that level has been outstanding first up performances in the 2015 Group 1 $750,000 Doomben 10000 (1350m) at Doomben during the Brisbane Winter Carnival and in the Group 1 $400,000 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield during the 2015 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Bookmakers at Ladbrokes.com.au have taken note of Boban’s recent first up runs and have installed him as the third favourite at $8.50 for the weight for age C.F. Orr Stakes which is over the same course and distance as the Memsie Stakes.
Boban’s other Group 1 wins were the $500,000 The Star Epsom (1600m) at Randwick and the $1m Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington during the 2013 Spring Carnival and the $500,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Warwick Farm during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Carnival.
The Darren Weir trained Lucky Hussler at $4.60 and smart Kiwi galloper Turn Me Loose at $4.80 look set to have a great battle in the betting ring for favouritism before they step onto the track at Caulfield to do battle.
Lucky Hussler has been tuned up for the C.F. Orr Stakes with a win in the $1m Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 9 while the Murray Baker trained Turn Me Loose is having his first run since winning the Group 1 $1m Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington during the 2015 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
C.F. Orr Stakes market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.60 Lucky Hussler, $4.80 Turn Me Loose, $8.50 Boban, $10 Bow Creek, $15 Fawkner, Suavito, $17 Rebel Dane, Hucklebuck, Trust In A Gust, Stratum Star, Entirely Platinum, $21 Fenway, $26 Mourinho, Messene, $34 Happy Trails, Rising Romance, $81 Awesome Rock, $101 Red Bomber.
