Bankers Choice has earned his shot at the Caulfield Cup after a thrilling victory in the Mornington Cup at Mornington on Saturday.
The 2400-metre contest offered a prized exemption from the Caulfield Cup ballot, and it was Glen Thompson’s galloper who rose to the occasion, delivering the biggest win of the trainer’s career since taking over from the late Mike Moroney.
Under a well-timed ride from Daniel Stackhouse, Bankers Choice ($10) clung on bravely to edge out Strawberry Rock ($21) by a short-half-head, while Smokin’ Romans ($21) finished off for third, 1¼ lengths behind.
Strawberry Rock’s jockey Teo Nugent briefly considered lodging a protest but chose not to after viewing the replay of the final stages.
The Mornington win marked a milestone moment for Thompson, who took charge of Bankers Choice following Moroney’s unexpected death earlier this year. The gelding had previously scored over the same trip at Caulfield on March 15.
“It’s amazing,” said Anthony Feroce, long-time racing manager for Moroney. “Last spring, we were aiming for the Caulfield Cup after he ran second in the Sandown Classic the year before.
“Things didn’t go our way in the spring, but he’s in terrific form now, and everyone involved has done a great job.”
Stackhouse, who claimed last year’s Mornington Cup aboard Esti Feny, has become a key part of the horse’s success story.
“Stacky, he got on him at The Valley one day and we opted for a change of tactics, going forward,” Feroce said. “That switch really made a difference — he’s been a new horse since.
“Everything unfolded perfectly today. He settled just where we hoped and really finished it off.”
Next on the radar could be the Warrnambool Cup on May 1, although Feroce hinted that resting the gelding until spring is also on the table.
“He may be better kept in work than given a long spell. That didn’t suit him last year, so we’ll weigh things up,” he said.
Wearing the same colours as 2020 Mornington Cup winner Aktau, Bankers Choice has now done what his predecessor couldn’t — punch his ticket into the 2025 Caulfield Cup.
