Only four horses have taken up the challenge of going from an autumn Mornington Cup victory to take on the Caulfield Cup in the spring since the former was first elevated to offer ballot-free status for the 2013 Cup at Caulfield.
None have yet managed to be even placed in the Caulfield Cup, but trainer Ben Hayes is thinking this year might be different with plans to run 2025 Mornington Cup winner Bankers Choice at Caulfield in the $5 million feature on October 18.
“If Bankers Choice (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) runs well in the Ansett (Classic) at Mornington this Sunday, yes, he’ll go to the Caulfield Cup,” Hayes said last weekend. “We think he’s going very well.”
The Listed Ansett Stakes (2415m) attracted 15 nominations when entries closed on Tuesday morning, with Bankers Choice and last year’s Melbourne Cup third placegetter Okita Soushi both taking in the highest domestic rating of 104.
Bankers Choice won this year’s Mornington Cup as a $10 chance for trainer Glen Thompson but the horse has since switched stables to the Lindsay Park yard run by the Hayes brothers Ben, JD and Will.
There is a perception about Bankers Choice that he is not a genuine staying type, but his record belies that as he’s never been further back than second place at his four starts at 2400 metres.
The Lindsay Park team knows a little about winning a Caulfield Cup with an unfancied runner as they took the race in 2017 with $51 outsider Boom Time.
