Unless there is a compelling reason not to run Boban in the Doncaster Mile, the gelding will take his place as topweight in the $3 million race.
Chris Waller said the dual Group One winner was ready to race on Saturday with clear weather expected in Sydney late in the week.
Boban - Photo by Steve Hart
The second favourite, Boban will carry 58kg with the market leader Messene rising to 51.5kg after weights go up 1.5kg.
Corey Brown will ride Messene for the Golden Slipper-winning Hawkes family training partnership while Boban will have regular partner Glyn Schofield aboard.
“I will make the final decision on Monday but I’m leaning towards running,” Waller said.
“If we wait until the Queen Elizabeth the following week then we might be running on a heavy nine or ten.
“Everything suggests he should be there.”
“He is a racehorse and it’s realistic to expect him to carry the top weight.”
Boban added last month’s Chipping Norton Stakes to his Group One Emirates Stakes victory in the spring but faltered on the slow track to finish seventh in the George Ryder Stakes won by Irish visitor Gordon Lord Byron.
Waller could have six Doncaster runners with a decision on Saturday’s Prelude winner Weary to also be made on Monday.
The stable’s other contenders are 2013 ATC Oaks winner Royal Descent, Queensland Derby winner Hawkspur, 2011 Queen Elizabeth winner My Kingdom Of Fife and last year’s Doncaster winner Sacred Falls.
“Royal Descent is well on target,” Waller said. She had a big weight in the Coolmore and drops here.”
The mare will drop four kilos on the 58kg she carried for fifth in the Coolmore and will have 54kg with Nash Rawiller to ride.
Hawkspur will be ridden by Jim Cassidy while Zac Purton takes the mount on Sacred Falls.
“Hawkspur had a nice trial the other day and I think this suits,” Waller said.
“Sacred Falls has been set for this race all along and My Kingdom Of Fife will run – if he wants to run.”
Purton leads the Hong Kong premiership but is being seriously challenged by Joao Moreira who follows him to Sydney for Doncaster day.
Moreira will ride Slow Pace in the Doncaster and has mounts in two of the other Group One races so far on Peron in the TJ Smith Stakes (1200) and Mountain View in the Australian Derby (2400m).
