Racing
Brisbane calling for Bankers Choice
Bankers Choice is Brisbane bound to prepare for the Caulfield Cup.
New Lindsay Park acquisition Bankers Choice is likely to follow the path of Without A Fight into the Caulfield Cup.
The Ben, Will and J D Hayes-trained stayer holds a nomination in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on Saturday, but is considered unlikely to run.
Bankers Choice had initially been down to run in the Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington on Saturday, but as he already had secured a Caulfield Cup berth courtesy of his win in the Mornington Cup last month, it was decided to bypass that race and head to Brisbane.
Ben Hayes said the stable would have a thorough look at the entries for the Doomben Cup, but it was likely he would bypass the race in favour of running in the Group 3 Lord Mayor's Cup (1800m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday week and then head to the Group 2 Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm two weeks later.
Those two races were won by recently retired Without A Fight in 2023 before he went on to claim the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup double.
"We were going to run in the Andrew Ramsden, but then we had a discussion with the whole team," Hayes said.
"He's qualified for the Caulfield Cup, so we thought we'd go up to Queensland instead.
"There are some nice options up there for him. There's the Q22, there are some good set-weights and penalties races.
"He's nominated in the Doomben Cup. We'll have a look at the race and weigh everything up, but he'll potentially run a week later.
"There's an 1800-metre race, and then we can go into the Q22 and then we'll aim him at the Caulfield Cup, just like they did with Without A Fight."
Previously prepared by Mike Moroney and then Glen Thompson when winning the Mornington Cup, Hayes said Bankers Choice had entered their stable in fantastic order.
Having won the Mornington Cup and receiving a ballot exemption into the Caulfield Cup (2400m) in October, Hayes said the pressure of gaining a start was off.
"He's already in the Caulfield Cup and everything will be planned towards heading to that race," Hayes said.
"We'll look at giving him a bit of a freshen up there, if it ever stops raining, and then he'd probably do the weight-for-age path into the Caulfield Cup.
"He's a very straight-forward horse and he arrived to us in great order.
"Fingers crossed. It's a great opportunity."
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