Racing: Boban sweeps past NZ stayer

Photo / Thinkstock

A spectacular return to form by Boban in the Chipping Norton Stakes has completed a two-state group one double for the Schofield family.

Just 20 minutes after Chad Schofield won the Newmarket Hcp at Flemington on Lankan Rupee on Saturday, his father Glyn was reunited with Boban in the 1600m feature at Warwick Farm and extended his perfect record on the Chris Waller-trained gelding to six.

In the process, the pair lowered the colours of It's A Dundeel, who raced in the Arrowfield silks for the first time.

Suspension cost Schofield the ride on Boban for the first two starts of his preparation, with Nash Rawiller steering him to unplaced runs in the Expressway and Apollo Stakes.

"Glyn is the difference," Waller said.

"He rode with confidence. I can't explain it but some jockeys just get on with some horses better.

"It's very satisfying to see the horse back and reinforces that you should stick to your guns and not change anything. You can never be too confident but I could see how well he was travelling."

Schofield and Boban tracked It's A Dundeel throughout the race and the winning rider said he was confident a long way out.

"At the 800m I could hear James [McDonald] clicking It's A Dundeel up and I knew he was going to be in trouble," Schofield said.

Under Schofield, Boban ($4.80) showed the turn of foot that won him the Epsom Hcp and Emirates Stakes in the spring to stride past It's A Dundeel ($1.85) to win by a length with Hawkspur ($16) the same margin third.

It's A Dundeel gained a pass mark from his trainer Murray Baker.

"He was beaten by a better horse on the day," Baker said.

"He may have been a bit fresh but we had our chance.

"He had a trial but he hadn't had a race and you can't beat a race."

It's A Dundeel will step up to the 2000m of the Ranvet Stakes in two weeks', while Boban heads to the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) a week later.

Meanwhile, further south, Australia's best racehorse is certain to return to England to show them what he's become after producing yet another supreme performance in the Australian Cup on Saturday.

Fiorente overcame an unfavourable run, and winners of the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup, to add Flemington's autumn feature to his spring showpiece and take his earnings beyond A$6 million.

The horse, who left England as a promising but moderately performed young stayer, will now attempt to add Sydney's richest race, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, to his tally.

Trainer Gai Waterhouse will then take her Melbourne Cup champion back to England to run at that country's greatest race meeting on the Queen's own racecourse.

In a contest that said a lot about Australian racing - and a lot about the new-found quality of its greatest race, the Melbourne Cup - imported gallopers filled the first five placings.

Fiorente, the $1.95 favourite, came from near last at the 500m, steaming home to score by a half length from another Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon ($18).

For Waterhouse, the win provided special satisfaction. "I wanted to win this race and I knew I had the horse to do it," she said.

Cox Plate winner and second favourite Shamus Award disappointed, finishing sixth after enjoying a relatively easy time in the lead.

- AAP