Star miler Boban rounded out a faultless campaign when he rattled home to win Saturday’s $1 million Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
The win capped a successful four day carnival for Chris Waller – the Rosehill record breaker rounding out the week with another feature winner as well as the award for leading trainer.
Sent out the favourite after a stunning win in the Moonga Stakes at Caulfield, Boban produced another determined performance to beat home in form gallopers Smokin’ Joey and Speediness.
“The way he is racing he might get 2000 metres, but we will just take one step at a time and take him through a weight-for-age path in the autumn because there are plenty of nice races at home for him.”
“Having had a taste for it at this carnival, the Cox Plate sounds pretty enticing,” Waller added.
The win was another at the elite level for Glyn Schofield. His first congratulations came from his Cox Plate winning son Chad on pulling up. He finished out of a place aboard Strike the Stars.
“The ride just continues with this horse,” Schofield said. “Chris has turned him into a really, really good horse – probably the best miler in the country at this stage.”
“He is going from strength to strength and he has earned himself a nice spell I am sure,” he added.
The pin up performer from six winners to date for the Group One winner Kenbelle, Boban was purchased by BBA Ireland for connections for $100,000 at the 2011 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Bred by the Thomas family of Greendale Lodge, Boban was sold through the Millbrook draft at the Gold Coast where he caught the eye of senior part John O’Neill.
“He was just a great type of horse and we really liked him at the Gold Coast and at $100,000 he wasn’t that expensive,” O’Neill said.
“He’s by Bernardini and he was a bit unknown in Australia at the time and his dam was getting a little older – but gee he was a lovely horse and look at him now – what a bargain!”
Bernardini has a select group of five yearlings being prepared for January’s Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The draft includes a half sister to Singapore based Group One winner Better Life and a half brother to Magic Millions heroine Mimi Lebrock.
To see a replay of the great win of Boban click here.
Winner: Boban
Breeding: Bernardini-Kenbelle (Kenmare)
Race: VRC Emirates Stakes G1 (1600m)
Sold for: $100,000
Sale: 2011 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Millbrook (As Agent)
Buyer: BBA Ireland
Earnings: $1,297,413
Owner(s): JA O’Neill, M Pejic, MG Dominello, Token Croats (Mgr: I Rados) & Carty Racing (Mgr: BC Carty)
Trainer: Chris Waller (Rosehill)
