Top Sydney jockey Glyn Schofield is hoping for a trouble free run for Boban in the Group 1 $1m Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Boban will start favourite in the Emirates Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Boban is going for his fifth straight win and had to overcome several setbacks last start at Caulfield before winning the Group 3 $150,000 Sportingbet Moonga Stakes (1400m) after winning the Group 1 $500,000 The Star Epsom (1600m) at Randwick on October 5 with another last to first performance.
The Chris Waller trained Boban had to go back to last in the Moonga Stakes after drawing the outside gate in the twelve horses field and looked no hope when Schofield had to check the gelding just before the home turn, but was than able to balance him up before gathering in the leaders for a soft win in the end.
Boban has drawn a bit better in the Emirates Stakes and Schofield is hoping to be closer to the pace from gate four.
“He was smacked into the fence, Nash had me scraping paint for a long way and it was really tight and I ended up with no room to run in so he checked himself out of it,” Schofield told the Sportsman.
“He made a long run and dashed pretty hard and it was a soft win.”
“A better gate allows him to be in a better spot so we will see where we end up.”
Schofield has been most impressed with the way that Boban has just keep on improving and rates him the best horse racing in Australia as he lines up as the favourite to win his second Group 1 from his last three starts.
“I’m not going into the race feeling anything but confident, he’s done everything I’ve asked and done it comfortably most of the time.”
“He’s been very good and has taken another step every time he has run so hopefully he can do the same again.”
“He’s up towards the top of the handicaps and he definitely has to lift again. He received weight all around in the Epsom and now he is giving weight.”
Boban was on the minimum and only had to carry 53kgs when he won the Epsom and on Saturday is the second top weight on 57kg, only 1kg below dual Group 1 winner Solzhenitsyn.
Waller will also saddle up Sacred Falls who ran his best race this Spring with a third to Toydini in the Group 2 $220,000 Schweppes Crystal Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley on October 26.
Glen Boss will be having his first ride on the former New Zealand four year old who hasn’t won at four starts since claiming the Group 1 $2m BMW Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick in the Autumn.
Boban heads the Emirates Stakes market order at $3.50 with Sacred Falls the second pick at $6, Toydini at $6.50 and the Gai Waterhouse trained Spurtonic is marked at $7.50 just ahead of Speediness at $9.50.
