Facts And Figures With Boban In G1 Makybe

Statistics give Chris Waller a much better chance of training his next Group One winner in Melbourne rather than Sydney on Saturday.

But the data that also supports Waller's claim Boban will be at the height of his powers in the Makybe Diva Stakes isn't enough to convince the trainer to choose Flemington over Rosehill as his preferred Group One venue.

Expectations of a Group One win at Rosehill are nowhere near as high as they are with Boban, a specialist over the Makybe Diva distance with timing on his side.

Waller is relying on the outsider Sniper Fire to deliver back-to-back Golden Rose wins for the stable whereas Boban is attracting support as second favourite to beat Dissident in Melbourne.

"I'd love to be in Melbourne for a Group One down there but I've got a Group One runner here as well and we've got a lot of numbers in Sydney," Waller said.

Waller is happy to be in the corner of his Golden Rose underdog but concedes it's hard to go past Boban as one of the stable's best chances across two states.

Boban will be trying to enhance a 1600-metre record that includes Group One wins in the Epsom Handicap, Emirates Stakes and Chipping Norton Stakes.

And the fact two of those wins have been at Boban's third run into a campaign isn't lost on Waller.

"He peaks at his third and fourth runs and Saturday looks his chance to win another one," Waller said.

Boban has to make up almost four lengths on Dissident from the Memsie Stakes where he was caught wide in a race in which natural sprinters Sweet Idea and Moment Of Change provided a genuine tempo.

There is no obvious speed in the Makybe but Waller expects the profile of the race to work for Boban.

Sniper Fire has been friendless as a $71 chance in Golden Rose markets and Waller admits he is taking a gamble on the three-year-old being good enough.

"It's a risk in terms of whether he is up to the class but you've got to try," Waller said.