Memsie Stakes 2015: Boban The Horse To Beat

Boban will return to the race in the 2015 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday and trainer Chris Waller believes that the enigmatic galloper will be very tough to beat in the Group 1 event.

Boban has the chance to record a fifth Group 1 victory in the 2015 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart

Boban has the chance to record a fifth Group 1 victory in the 2015 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart

Boban looked like he had reached a crossroads when he failed to fire in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on January 31, the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on February 14 and the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Warwick Farm on February 28, but the Bernardini gelding was able to return to his best form during the 2015 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.

The talented gelding was set for a first-up tilt in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m) in Brisbane on May 23 and he showed his trademark turn-of-foot to record a most impressive victory and he backed up that performance with a brave second in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben on June 6.

Boban was given a short stint in the spelling paddock following the Stradbroke Handicap, but he showed that he was ready for a return to racing when he performed strongly in two barrier trials at Rosehill Gardens on August 4 and August 17.

Waller said that he can’t knock Boban whatsoever ahead of the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) and he believes the six-year-old can record his fifth Group 1 victory at Caulfield this weekend.

“I think that he will be hard to beat,” Waller said.

“With Boban we haven’t changed anything and he will be fresh-up over 1400 after not too long of a break.

“He has had two trials and his work has been standard for him because he is a good horse.”

Boban will be joined in the 2015 Memsie Stakes field by stablemate Weary, who returned to the races with a fast-finishing second behind Burbero in the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on August 8.

Weary was allocated barrier 16 when the Memsie Stakes barrier draw was released yesterday morning and will need some luck in running to claim a maiden win at Group 1 level, but Waller has faith in jockey Craig Newitt to get the job done.

“Weary has an awkward gate, but the first-up run was a cracker,” Waller said.

“A good track would probably be the only concern and we will leave it to Craig Newitt.”

Boban is currently available at 2015 Memsie Stakes odds of $5 and is a clear favourite with Ladbrokes from Volkstok’n’barrell ($8), Weary ($9) and Hi World ($9).

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.