Rain to decide Warwick Stakes 2014 for Boban

The abrupt end to Sydney’s dry winter could prompt a change of early carnival plans for Boban.

The newly-crowned NSW Horse of the Year for his three Group One wins last season, the Chris Waller-trained gelding will be one of several stable entries for Saturday’s Group Two Warwick Stakes.

But Waller said he would divert Boban to the Group One Memsie Stakes at Caulfield a week later if the rain continued as predicted.

“The weather is a query with him,” Waller said.

“If it was slow or worse we could save him for the Memsie. That looks like a nice race for him.”

Waller was pleased with Boban’s first-up fourth in the Missile Stakes when he had to work hard after missing the start and getting blocked in the straight.

Boban’s jockey Glyn Schofield was less than happy believing the horse had been denied a fair start.

“He has pulled up well and I am a lot happier with him this time around than in the autumn,” he said.

One definite Warwick Stakes runner for the stable is dual Doncaster Mile winner Sacred Falls who is headed towards the Cox Plate.

With his 2014 Doncaster jockey Zac Purton nursing an injured foot, Kerrin McEvoy will ride Sacred Falls.

“We will take him along quietly to the Cox Plate,” Waller said.

“He will race mostly in Sydney up until then. Races like the Chelmsford Stakes and the George Main are on his program.

“Royal Descent will also resume in the Warwick Stakes and Tommy Berry rides her.

“I’m really happy with how she looks and she is also headed to the Cox Plate.

“Although she won an Oaks, she will be kept to shorter than 2400 metres this time.

“I think her run in the Doncaster was one of the best of her career.”

Hawkspur, Moriarty, Junoob, Weary and Our Voodoo Prince are other possible Warwick Stakes runners for Waller.

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