Epsom Handicap to son of Bernardini

Won in the past by some of the very best racehorse to grace the Australian turf, the famed Randwick mile saw something special on October 5, when Bernardini’s four-year-old son Boban came from the tail of the field to claim the G1 Epsom Handicap over 1600m.

Trained by Chris Waller, Boban has remained unbeaten this time in, graduating from a Benchmark 90 victory in August, to a facile three-and-three-quarter length victory in the G3 Bill Ritchie last start, and now contesting the G1 Epsom Handicap.

Having always shown very good ability, Boban’s devastating sprint has been the key to him, and with the way the race was going to be run, jockey Glyn Schofield settled the four-year-old back towards the rear of the field and as the home turn was reached Boban was asked for his effort.

Thundering down the Randwick straight, Boban had to knuckled down to catch the Guy Walter-trained pair of Streama and fellow Bernardini four-year-old Toydini and as the line was reached and a photo checked, Boban’s number went into the frame, successful by a nose.

Bred by Mr A B and Mrs R R Thomas, Boban is out of the G1 Australian Oaks winner Kenbelle, a half-sister to Auranch, a winner of the G2 Todman Slipper Trial Stakes. Currently in foal, Kenbelle is due to foal a full relation to Boban in the coming months.

The third victory in the last four years sired by a Darley stallion in the Epsom Handicap after the previous victories of Captain Sonador (Shamardal) and Secret Admirier (Dubawi), Boban is the first Australian G1 winner for Bernardini and second in the southern hemisphere after his two-year-old daughter Ruud Awakening was successful in New Zealand last season.

The sire of 23 Stakes winners, seven of which are G1 winners, Bernardini is standing the current breeding season at Darley Kelvinside at a fee of $33,000 (inc. GST).