Chris Waller has a horse for the moment and one for the future as he assembles his best middle-distance talent against It’s A Dundeel in the Chipping Norton Stakes.
It’s A Dundeel is an odds-on favourite to deny Waller four successive wins in the weight-for-race at Warwick Farm on Saturday, the first Group One of the Sydney autumn carnival.
Boban - Photo by Steve Hart
But Waller will have three runners and it is Boban who Waller says is the most likely of the trio to spoil It’s A Dundeel’s return to racing.
Boban has been unplaced in two starts since an undefeated spring but Waller hasn’t given up on the Epsom Handicap and Emirates Stakes winner presenting a serious challenge to the favourite.
“He’s not far off the mark … he just needs to settle a bit in his races,” Waller said.
“It’s A Dundeel will be very hard to beat but if there is a horse to do it then I’m sure Boban is capable of doing it.”
Similarly, Waller is hoping he is also the trainer to provide It’s A Dundeel’s main opposition in the Ranvet Stakes in two weeks.
Moriarty, a $9.50 Chipping Norton chance, is shaping as potential big-race winner with two pleasing runs at weight-for-age to mark the start of his campaign.
“He is going better than any horse in Sydney at the moment in terms of where he is heading,” Waller said.
“He’s on track for the Ranvet and if you say he was going to win a Ranvet he’ll be running in the money in the Chipping Norton as well.”
Hawkspur will complete Waller’s Chipping Norton team after being off the pace in the CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield.
“It was disappointing but I’m not looking into it too much because it’s going to be a good form race,” Waller said.
Hawkspur has a solid second-up record, highlighted by a runaway Chelmsford Stakes win over stablemate Beaten Up in the spring.
Boban will be reunited with Glyn Schofield who won five straight on the gelding in the spring but missed his first two runs this time around because of suspension.
Waller admitted Boban was a difficult horse to ride and he hoped Schofield would be able to get the best out of him.
