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It might have been a cold and miserable day but in the first group 1 race of the spring Sydney galloper Boban again showed his class to score a last-stride victory in the Memsie Stakes.
“It all went pretty much to plan,” said his matter-of-fact rider Glyn Schofield.
From an inside gate Schofield had the Chris Waller-trained Boban travelling nicely three back along the inside. Coming to the turn he had little option other than to stick closer to the inside and it worked out perfectly.
“I thought he’s not going to win it going around them and I was fortunate I stayed where I was and he just got there in time.”
But Schofield admitted that he had doubts after Entirely Platinum, ridden by Dwayne Dunn, kicked clear as the field came around the home turn.
“We came around the corner and Dwayne had kicked away and I didn’t know if I was going to get there or not,” he said.
Stratum Star looked the main danger to Entirely Platinum at the 250m but Boban made easy work of the soft conditions and came through strongly along the inside.
On the line Boban ($5.50) had a short-head margin on Entirely Platinum ($11 to $9.50), with Stratum Star ($8) just peaking on his run to be a nose away in third place.
“He certainly unleashed a powerful finish over the last furlong and put his head down when he needed to,” Schofield said.
“He is a fantastic horse. When he quickens up there are not many who can quicken up with him and he proved it today.”
Waller’s foreman Justine Hailes was full of praise for stable stalwart Boban, but said the six-year-old would be heading back to Sydney rather than remaining in Melbourne in the short term.
“He’s got a great heart and will to win,” Hailes said. “There is not much around for him over his distance range at the moment so he’ll head back to Sydney.”
Dunn had no excuse for Entirely Platinum. “We had our chance and one day he’ll get away with one of these,” he said.
Source: smh.com.au