Chris Waller plants a kiss on wife Stephanie at Flemington. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Limited
SYDNEY'S all-conquering trainer Chris Waller can claim his third Group 1 race of the Melbourne Cup carnival with either Boban or Sacred Falls in the $1 million Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Waller has had an outstanding spring carnival including a brace of major winners on Derby Day with Zoustar (Coolmore Stud Stakes) and Red Tracer (Myer Classic from stablemate Catkins).
He trained a treble at Flemington yesterday with the only three runners he saddled up. Marmelo won the Flemington Style Plate (1700m), Multilateral took out the Swisse Wellness Trophy (1800m), while Dystopia rounded off a perfect day by winning the Group 3 Mumm Stakes (1100m) down the straight.
Jockey Hugh Bowman guides Dystopia to a win down the famous Flemington straight. Picture Mark Dadswell Source: News Limited
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With Epsom Handicap winner Boban and Doncaster Mile hero Sacred Falls, Waller has a strong hand in the final Group 1 race of the spring carnival.
Form expert Gary Crispe of Racing And Sports says Boban is the pick of Waller's duo and rates as the horse to beat in the Emirates.
"Boban has been in sparkling form since transferring to Waller earlier this year, winning five of his nine runs including his only four starts this season,'' Crispe said.
"He won the Epsom brilliant then last time out at Caulfield, when dropping back in distance to 1400m in the Moonga Stakes, he was equally as impressive, shouldering 59.5ks and coming from what seemed an impossible position on the turn to defeat Strawberry Boy in effortless fashion. Since 2001, Boban is the only Epsom winner to win a race in Melbourne.''
Boban proves his absolute quality with a rugged win in the Moonga Stakes at Caulfield. Source: News Limited
Crispe said Boban is Timeform's top-rater for the Emirates but conceded the four-year-old's task of shouldering 57kgs against a very good field of ''milers'' will not be easy.
"The danger on Timeform weight adjusted ratings is clearly the Gai Waterhouse-trained Spurtonic, a runaway winner last time out of the David Jones Cup over 2000m at Caulfield,'' he continued.
"Significantly, Spurtonic was beaten less than a length by Boban in the Epsom and now meets that galloper a massive 5.5kg better at the weights this afternoon.
"While Boban just keeps stepping up each run, Spurtonic is similarly in the same vein and he is set for memorable rematch.''
Crystal Mile winner Toydini and third placegetter Sacred Falls both also come through the Epsom Handicap will provide stiff opposition.
Jockey Blake Shinn guides Toydini to victory in the Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley. Source: News Limited
"Toydini was a game third in the Epsom behind Boban just falling short by a neck then last start he fought hard to just prevail in the Crystal Mile over Speediness,'' Crispe said.
"Toydini is still on an upward ratings spiral and cannot be overlooked despite receiving just half a kilo from Boban, but he still receives a 1.5kg turnaround on Boban from their Epsom match up.
"Doncaster winner Sacred Falls was considered unlucky in the Crystal Mile finishing a late closing third after experiencing an interrupted passage in the straight going down by a neck.
"That was his fourth run this preparation and he should now be ready to reproduce his Doncaster winning form. It is significant that Glen Boss will have the ride today.
"On the history side, should he be successful, Sacred Falls will be the first Doncaster winner to take the Emirates Stakes double since the race was first run in 1919.''
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