Brisbane calling for Bankers Choice

By Craig Brennan and Mandy Cottell

Bankers Choice is Brisbane bound to prepare for the Caulfield Cup.

New Lindsay Park acquisition Bankers Choice is likely to follow the path of Without A Fight into the Caulfield Cup.

The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained stayer holds a nomination in the Group 1 Doomben Cup on Saturday, but is considered unlikely to run.

Bankers Choice had initially been down to run in the Listed Andrew Ramsden at Flemington on Saturday, but as he already had secured a Caulfield Cup berth courtesy of his win in the Mornington Cup last month, it was decided to bypass that race and head to Brisbane.

Ben Hayes said the stable would have a thorough look at the entries for the Doomben Cup, but it was likely he would bypass the race in favour of running in the Group 3 Lord Mayor's Cup at Eagle Farm on Saturday week and then head to the Group 2 Q22 at Eagle Farm two weeks later.

Those two races were won by recently retired Without A Fight in 2023 before he went on to claim the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup double.

"We were going to run in the Andrew Ramsden, but then we had a discussion with the whole team," Ben Hayes said.

"He's qualified for the Caulfield Cup, so we thought we'd go up to Queensland instead.

"There are some nice options up there for him. There's the Q22, there are some good set weights and penalties races.

"He's nominated in the Doomben Cup. We'll have a look at the race and weigh everything up, but he'll potentially run a week later.

"There's an 1800 metre race and then we can go into the Q22, then we'll aim him at the Caulfield Cup, just like they did with Without A Fight."

Previously prepared by Mike Moroney and then Glen Thompson when winning the Mornington Cup, Hayes said Bankers Choice had entered their stable in fantastic order.

Having won the Mornington Cup and receiving a ballot exemption into the Caulfield Cup in October, Ben Hayes said the pressure of gaining a start was off.

"He's already in the Caulfield Cup and everything will be planned towards heading to that race," Ben Hayes said.

"We'll look at giving him a bit of a freshen-up there, if it ever stops raining, and then he'd probably do the weight for age path into the Caulfield Cup.

"He's a very straight-forward horse and he arrived to us in great order.

Meanwhile, a Queensland Derby tilt remains on the table for Rough Habit Plate-winner Imperialist despite his failure to see out the staying journey in the Sydney classic.

The three-year-old posted a strong win in Saturday's Rough Habit Plate at Doomben, a traditional lead-up to the Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm in two weeks.

However, connections have a decision to make after trainer Chris Waller admitted the son of Churchill didn't appear to see out the classic journey when finishing among the tailenders in the ATC Australian Derby last month.

"He brought some good form to Sydney from Melbourne then just didn't quite stay the 2400 metres in the Derby," Waller said.

"We've got a little bit of concern about the 2400 metres.

"I think the Churchills are more speedier horses so that's the challenge we've got to deal with in the next two weeks."

Imperialist snuck under the guard of punters at Doomben, sent out a $61 chance after he finished worse than midfield in the Queensland Guineas at his previous start.

But, a gear readjustment and a positive ride from Tommy Berry turned the horse's form around.

"We tried blinkers (in the Guineas), and it just didn't work. He missed the start," Waller said.

"So, we took them off and suggested to Tommy, we ride him a bit closer. He had a nice soft time up in front and it just sparked a bit of interest."

Berry concurred that Imperialist switched on ridden handier at Doomben then declared that if anybody could put some stamina into the horse's constitution, it was Waller.

"If he says he will get him to stay again, he will get him to stay," Berry said.

"He is the best staying trainer that's going around."

Imperialist firmed from $101 into $15 for the Queensland Derby with Rough Habit Plate third placegetter King Of Thunder maintaining favouritism at $6.