While the focus of racing over the week ahead will be on the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, the Lindsay Park training team will be similarly honed in on The Q22 where Bankers Choice lines up as a genuine chance.
As the Hayes boys – Ben, Will and JD – await the 1400-metre Stradbroke barrier draw on Tuesday with race favourite War Machine, Bankers Choice rises to a suitable distance in the $1.2 million Group 2 event on the undercard.
“He’s a very straightforward horse,” Ben said.
“He came to us in great form and we thought his run the other day was very good with a while between runs.”
Bankers Choice finished third after leading into the straight in the Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m) at Eagle Farm in what was at the time of running a Heavy 8 surface.
The meeting was called off one race later but it also signified the first time that the seven-year-old had met such a heavily rain affected track since finishing second in the Group 2 JRA Plate (2000m) at Randwick in April 2023.
The 2200-metre trip of The Q22 sees the gelding return to a distance he has shown to be comfortable with having won the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) two starts back on April 19 which earned a placing in the Caulfield Cup in October.
“He had the trial (at Caulfield Heath) because it was a while between those runs and the Eagle Farm run was a good pipe opener for this really good prizemoney race,” Ben added.
“He’s shown that he can get to the trip and I think the 2220-metres should be ideal.”
Brisbane’s weather forecast towards Saturday has maximum temperatures ranging from 19 to 23 degrees with no rain expected as of Monday.
Bankers Choice is rated an $11 chance across all-in markets with online bookmakers for The Q22 with last start Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) second-placegetter Fawkner Park the $2.50 betting favourite.