Boban is set to contest the 2015 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington on Saturday, but trainer Chris Waller has revealed that the talented galloper will be freshened up for the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) after he runs in the Group 1 event this weekend.
Boban will have the chance to add another Group 1 victory to his racing resume when he contests the Makybe Diva Stakes this afternoon. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Boban returned to the races with a fast-finishing win in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 29 and he will be given the chance to record back-to-back Group 1 wins when he contests the Makybe Diva Stakes, but Waller has decided that the Bernardini gelding will not return to Sydney for races like the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on September 19 or the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October 3.
The Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1207m) during the 2016 Royal Ascot Meeting is a potential long-term goal for Boban and Waller told Racing.com that he is keen to see how the enigmatic galloper handles the straight track in the Darley Classic.
“He’ll go to the Makybe Diva Stakes and after that we’ll freshen him up for the Darley Classic on the last day (of the Carnival) with a view of a dream trip to Ascot if he ran well,” Waller said.
“That’s why we want to get him a tilt up the straight.”
Boban made his Flemington debut when he finished 11th behind Limes in the Listed Hilton Hotels Stakes (1400m) in his final race start before he joined the Waller stable and he returned to the famous track when he recorded a narrow win over Smokin’ Joey and Speediness in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m) during the 2013 Melbourne Cup Carnival.
He returned to Flemington for the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) last year and he was sent to the spelling paddock after he finished a disappointing fifth, but he has clearly returned to his best form in his past three race starts.
Waller is chasing his second win in the Makybe Diva Stakes after Foreteller upset Puissance De Lune to take out the 2013 edition of the race, while he has not had a runner in the Makybe Diva Stakes since Danleigh finished sixth behind All Silent in 2009 and Triple Honour finished fourth behind Swick in 2008.
