Rejuvenated Boban ended a 27-year drought for Epsom Handicap winners when he added the Emirates Stakes to an imposing CV. After starting his spring preparation in a benchmark 90 race, Boban has posted five successive wins for Chris Waller, none bigger than the $1 million Emirates, reports Racing Network.
And, the four-year-old dug deep to hold off a late surge from Smokin’ Joey, which remarkably rallied after being three deep throughout.
For Waller it was his second Emirates in three years after having won in 2011 with Albert The Fat and it was his third Group 1 of the VRC carnival with super colt Zoustar and quality mare Red Tracer providing his other Group 1s.
Boban became the first horse to win the Epsom/Emirates double since Chanteclair in 1986.
Waller forecast that Boban would now graduate to weight-for-age company during the Sydney autumn carnival.
And, Waller believes that Boban has the scope to stretch out to 2000 metres which brings into play the Queen Elizabeth at Randwick and, if successful, next year’s Cox Plate.
Boban, a drifter from $3.80 to $4.60, scored by a half neck from Smokin’ Joey, a $21 chance, with Speediness, $9, a short head away third.
Solzhenitsyn, a $17, chance dropped out to finish last, but a subsequent veterinary examination revealed a throat abnormality. Trainer Rob Heathcote said the horse would have a throat operation and then go for a spell.
Glyn Schofield said that son Chad may have won the best race in the country, but he was riding the best horse.
"And, he proved it to that today," Schofield said.
"He's got courage and he's got guts and he's done that throughout his career."
What impressed Waller is that unlike some of his previous wins, Boban was forced to fight for his latest win.
“He had to fight today, it was a good win and a gem of a ride from Glyn,” Waller said.
“He’s becoming more tractable now and is able to take up a position. I thought he was the winner at 100 metres, but he was out of petrol and then he had to find a lot.
“It shows that he can fight as well as have brilliance. He’s a pretty exciting horse looking towards the autumn and beyond.”
Waller attributed the remarkable progression of Boban, just the seventh horse in the past 90 years to complete the Epsom/Emirates double, simply to the horse gaining confidence.
He said there was no “rocket science” about it.
"He's pretty special. He's made me look me pretty good," Waller said.