Bankers Choice (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) could be the first horse to secure ballot-free runs into both the Caulfield (Gr.1, 2400m) and Melbourne Cups (Gr.1, 3200m) by mid-May with plans to possibly run in Saturday’s Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington.
The rising eight-year-old had only run at 2400 metres once before his current campaign, but new co-trainer J D Hayes said the stable had been impressed by the seven-year-old’s quality in his short time at Lindsay Park after crossing from Glen Thompson’s Flemington yard.
“We are not locked into running yet and will be guided by his final piece of work, but from what we’ve seen at the farm at Euroa, he’s a very talented galloper,” Hayes said.
“He’s a beautiful physical (specimen) and he’s obviously got great staying capabilities after winning the Mornington Cup.”
Bankers Choice was originally trained by the late Mike Moroney before transferring to Glen Thompson earlier this year following Moroney’s death. Thompson took him straight to 2400 metres at Caulfield for a win before he progressed to Mornington.
At what was just his third run at 2400 metres, Bankers Choice turned in a bold on-pace effort in the Mornington Cup to secure a ballot-free run into next spring’s Caulfield Cup.
A Ramsden win on Saturday would mean he would be free of the Melbourne Cup ballot also.
“We just want to see what he’s like staying,” Hayes said. “He’s a horse in form. His win at Mornington was full of merit and we just want to look at the race.”