NZB Memsie Stakes Goes to Waller and Boban

Proven Group 1 performer Boban (Bernardini) was victorious in Australia’s first Group 1 race of the season - the Group 1 A$400,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

Boban victorious in the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes.

Saturday’s win was Boban’s fifth triumph at Group 1 level for ex-pat kiwi trainer Chris Waller. The son of Bernardini entered the race fresh from a spell, having campaigned successfully in Brisbane late last season with victory in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 and a second placing in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.

“In the end there’s nothing for him in the next couple of weeks so we decided to roll the dice,” commented Waller. “It all came down to a great ride from Glyn but he’s a bloody fantastic horse. Not many can win five Group Ones.”

Regular rider Glyn Schofield was once again aboard Boban in his second tilt at the NZB Memsie Stakes, having finished fifth in the race last year, and raced mid-field in the early stages.

The field was led by Karaka graduate Entirely Platinum (NZ) (Pentire), who pinched a break on the field at the top of the home straight. Schofield elected to stay close to the inside and gained a run underneath the leader for Boban and the horse sprinted strongly to put his nose in front in the concluding stages for victory over a brave Entirely Platinum with Stratum Star (Stratum) in third.

The six-year-old gelding has won A$2,790,663 in prizemoney, winning 11 of his 33 starts for his owners Mr M G Dominello, Mr M Pejic, Token Croats, Mr J A O’Neill and Carty Racing.

The Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes was the second leg of the New Zealand Bloodstock Spring WFA Championship at Caulfield. Boban is now in a tie for the lead, receiving 10 points after winning on Saturday, with Mourinho (Oratorio), winner of the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes, also on 10 points. Entirely Platinum is on eight points for finishing runner-up and Stratum Star collected 6 points for his third placing, with points awarded back to eighth place.

Next on the schedule for the NZB Spring WFA Championship is the Group 1 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes, to be run over 1800m on the 26 September at Caulfield Racecourse.

To view the current leaderboard for New Zealand Bloodstock’s Spring WFA Championship at Caulfield, click here.

Earlier in the day at Caulfield, kiwi galloper Abidewithme (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) won the first race of the day, the A$80,000 Cape Grim Beef Plate, followed by Karaka graduate Alaskan Rose (NZ) (Encosta de Lago) who sprinted to victory in the second race, the A$80,000 Montague Tree Handicap.

Making it two wins from two starts, Alaskan Rose was purchased at the 2014 Karaka Premier Sale by Paul Moroney Bloodstock for $150,000 and is now raced in Victoria by trainer Michael Moroney.