Boban has taken out the final Group One race of the Spring Carnival, winning the Emirates Stakes at Flemington on Saturday, holding off a fast-finishing Smokin’ Joey with Speediness a close third.

The victory was Boban’s fifth successive race win, each of them with jockey Glyn Schofield aboard.

Trainer Chris Waller was full of praise for the four-year-old after the race and said he was learning with every start.

“He’s dug very deep and it was a brave win,” Waller said.

“He’s no longer a horse that has to be snagged back to near last and taught to settle. To win good races you need to be able to do that.”

Waller also said Boban could target next year’s Cox Plate.

“When you’re talking Cox Plates that’s a different story again,” Waller said.

“We’ll just start off down a weight-for-age path. Obviously having a taste of this carnival, a Cox Plate sounds pretty enticing.”

Earlier, Queensland galloper Buffering secured back-to-back Group One victories with a start-to-finish win in the VRC Sprint.

Buffering had placed 10 times at Group One level before breaking through for his maiden win at that level in the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley on October 26.

Buffering hit the front early and held his place at the head of the pack with Shamexpress and Moment Of Change filling the minor placings.