Doomben 10,000 winner Boban has been confirmed a starter for the 2015 Group 1 $2m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben on June 6.
Glyn Schofield and Boban will combine again in the Stradbroke Handicap at Doomben. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Trainer Chris Waller was reluctant to commit immediately to a start in Queensland’s premier race after Boban won the Group 1 $750,000 James Boag’s Premium Doomben 10000 (1350m) at Doomben last Saturday, his first win for over twelve months.
But the champion trainer said this morning that the four time Group 1 winner would contest the Stradbroke Handicap even with the impost of 58kg.
“We have made a final decision that he will definitely run in the Stradbroke,” Waller said on RSN radio today.
“He has the topweight of 58kg. It’s a $2 million race and with Brisbane Racing Club putting up the money it is only fair that they get the right horses and we certainly want to try and get a piece of it if we can.”
Boban was having his first start in the Doomben 10,000 since beating one runner home when fifteenth behind Contributer in the Group 1 $500,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Warwick Farm on February 28 and Saturday’s win was the first time the five year old had visited the winner’s stall since winning the 2014 Chipping Norton Stakes.
“It’s unbelievable,” Waller said of Boban’s Doomben 10,000 win.
“A horse of his nature won three Group 1 races all in the space of eight or ten months, so to get him back winning is one thing, but at that level it is unbelievable.”
Top Sydney jockey Glyn Schofield has been the regular rider for Boban since the Spring of 2013 and has been aboard the Bernardini gelding in all of his four Group 1 wins and has been confirmed the rider again in the Stradbroke Handicap.
“Glyn Schofield will ride Boban,” Waller said.
Waller admits that Boban has been disappointing throughout his career on several occasions but Schofield has the secret to get the best out of the temperamental sprinter when they click on race day.
“He is a very difficult horse. Temperamental. It makes Glyn look bad sometimes. But he knows him so well and he is certainly a key to the horse’s success.”
Boban claimed his first Group 1 win in the 2013 $500,000 The Star Epsom (1600m) at Randwick during the Sydney Spring Carnival and followed that five weeks later with a win in the Group 1 $1m Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on the last day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
The inclusion of Boban in the Stradbroke is not good news for the connections of Melbourne filly Lumosty who will be struggling to make the final sixteen when acceptances are taken next Wednesday.
The Robert Smerdon trained Lumosty is marked as the $7 second favourite for the Stradbroke Handicap at Ladbrokes.com.au behind the Gai Waterhouse trained Najoom at $4.
Najoom was also confirmed a starter in the $2m race after connections paid a $30,000 late entry fee after the Northern Meteor filly scored a stunning win in the Group 3 $125,000 Sita Australia Fred Best Classic (1350m) at Doomben last Saturday.
Boban is marked as a $13 chance alongside of stablemate Delactation who will be ridden by Glen Boss.
Also well up in the market order is the Western Australian sprinter Black Heart Bart at $7.50, Generalife at $8.50 and Doomben 10,000 runner up Charlie Boy at $10.
