Top weight and a wide draw have left Banker’s Choice with it all to do when he goes out to defend his Mornington Cup crown on Saturday.
The eight-year-old son of Mongolian Khan was in the care of trainer Glenn Thompson when he took out last year’s Mornington Cup in a thriller when he beat Strawberry Rock and Smoking Romans by the narrowest of margins in a blanket finish.
Banker’s Choice carried 57kg that day and was ridden by Daniel Stackhouse … but everything has changed this year with Banker’s Choice now being trained by the Ben, Will and JD Hayes training partnership (Banker’s Choice moved to the Hayes yard after last year’s Mornington Cup win) … with Jamie Mott riding this time around … and with Banker’s Choice now being asked to carry 60kg over the 2400m trip.
That 60kg is not insignificant. It sets a real test, as shown by the fact that, looking at previous Mornington Cup winners dating back to 2000, no runner has carried more than 59kg to victory.
Interestingly enough, Banker’s Choice’s last run over 2400m was in no less than the Group 1 Caulfield Cup last year where he finished unplaced.
He was then spelled for five months and brought back in measured fashion by Team Hayes … taking on the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes over 1800m (in which he finished third to Birdman) … before moving on to the Group 3 Easter Cup over 2000m (where he finished unplaced).
From 1800m to 2000m … the steady buildup in distance … and now Banker’s Choice duly goes up to 2400m off a well-planned leadup.
Nobody said it would be easy, but Ben, Will and JD Hayes are not asking Banker’s Choice to front up for the scenic drive.
He will be all business on the day and he could well run better than his odds suggest, with $20 currently on offer about his chances.
