Bankers Back To Best

Appreciating a drop in class having been contesting strong races without the best of luck over the spring, the tough and talented seven-year-old began well and was able to gradually make his way out wide to the lead.

And once there he was one happy horse.

"It wasn't the plan to lead," reported the in-form Daniel Stackhouse, "but gee he gave me a good feel once he got there."

Niggled at before the turn, Bankers Choice responded well and really cornered well - kicking as he turned with his rivals off the bit and chasing.

It was his third start at Moonee Valley and his first win but he has run a couple of great races there including a second in the Gr.2 Crystal Mile on W.S Cox Plate day two years ago.

"It is so good to get him back into the winner's stall," Stackhouse said.

"I got him trotting a lot behind the gates just to keep him on his toes and he did step out a lot better."

"I wanted to get in behind the speed but that didn't relay work so I was happy just to take it up, they weren't going that quick and he felt really good once he got there - he pricked his ears, found a lovely rhythm and controlled the race."

"He was able to build into it when we wanted and picked up well at the turn."

It was a seventh win for Bankers Choice who has done such a great job winning in Gr.3 and Listed company - amassing over $1.17 million in stakes.

"It has been a great effort by his owners to stick with him," Michael Moroney said, noting that it had been two year's in between drinks.

"But they are a great bunch of owners and we really felt that the horse still had his best in him; he looks so well and has been working so well. It was nice to see the real Bankers Choice today."

"Daniel Stackhouse played a big part in this win, getting him on his toes before the race was key and it was a very well judged ride," Michael said, bemused by the fact that Bankers Choice has at times needed the opposite - "in the past we've had the pony with him to quieten him down!"

"We have wanted to ride him like this on other occasions but he just hasn't been able to muster that early speed. Today he cannoned into a few early and bounced off them, he did a good job and won really well."

Bred by Okaharau Station, Bankers Choice was purchased as a tried horse off great form for the Stephen Marsh stable in New Zealand.

Amongst his happy owners is Musk Creek Farm's David Kobritz who was on course to cheer Bankers Choice home.

"That was a lovely surprise," he said.

"He seemed to have lost his way a bit, he wasn't really finishing his races off. But Michael and Anthony kept saying that his work has been terrific."

Kobritz, who heads to Queensland next week with Musk Creek represented by five yearlings at the Magic Millions, is a member of the Moonee Valley Racing Club committee and he understandably gets a buzz from winning races at "home."

"It is always a big thrill," he said, recalling the day (in 2019) that his horses Global Exchange and Declarationofheart provided the quinella in the Gr.1 Alister Clark Stakes at the track.

A son of mare who cost his breeders just $6,000, Bankers Choice has a very promising three-year-old brother in the shape of Checkmate; a Listed winner in New Zealand in late November and a close up third in the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas on Boxing Day.

Okaharau Station have also held on to her yearling son by Vadamos, naming him Troupa.

Also producing the stakes placed Jodelin Gal, Bankers Choice's dam Signorina by the Danehill horse Conatus has as her closest black-type relation the Gr.1 Doncaster Handicap and Gr.1 1000 Guineas winner Magic Flute.

Bankers Choice's sire is the triple Gr.1 (Caulfield Cup, NZ Derby, ATC Derby) winner Mongolian Khan.

Photo courtesy of Darryl Sherer.