The Ryan Balfour-trained five-year-old gelding Balf’s Choice put up a promising effort in winning here, his seventh win (from 23 starts) and his first at stakes level. He was smartly away and soon crossed to the front. He then travelled well, at a steady tempo before William Pike dashed him clear at the 200m. He then went on to score comfortably, handling the Soft 6 track well. Equal favourite Brown Ben raced back in eighth place on the rails, got along the inner nearing the 200m, went to second at the 100m and battled on to hold that position to the post, without looking likely to trouble the winner. Jim’s Journey was fifth on the rails, got to fourth at the 200m and then battled on to take the minor placing while the other equal favourite Lord Aspen was a handy fourth until nearing the home turn but disappointed in the affected condition, weakening to finish ninth.
Previous Winners
| Date | Horse | Jockey | WT | Trainer | BP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
LITTLE AKIE
(AUS)
9G AKHADAN (AUS) - DOUBLE SPIRITS (AUS) BLEVIC (AUS) |
J HOLDER | 54.0 | BRIAN MUELLER | 10 |
|
|
BY THE GRACE
(AUS)
5G GOD'S OWN (AUS) - RAIN DANCE LADY (AUS) JUGAH (USA) |
C LINDOP | 54.0 | ANDREW NOBLET | 13 |
|
|
LONGSHOREMAN
(AUS)
6G LONGHORN (AUS) - STAR COUNCIL (AUS) LANGFUHR (USA) |
J HOLDER | 54.0 | TONY MCEVOY | 12 |
|
|
GRIS CARO
(GB)
4H WITH APPROVAL (CAN) - AVIANE (GER) WINGED LOVE (IRE) |
D TOURNEUR | 56.5 | JAKE STEPHENS | 3 |
|
|
BAGMAN
(AUS)
6G EASY ROCKING (AUS) - BADA BING (AUS) DEHERE (USA) |
B RAWILLER | 58.5 | SAM KAVANAGH | 8 |
|
|
MAGICAL PEARL
(AUS)
8G KELTRICE (AUS) - BOUNDARY WEST (AUS) MISTER FRISKY (USA) |
DAMIEN OLIVER | 55.5 | DENNIS O'LEARY | 7 |
|
|
HADDLE MCDADDLE
(AUS)
9G STRATEGIC (AUS) - IMPERIAL STAKAS (AUS) IMPERIAL BARON (AUS) |
MICHELLE PAYNE | 55.0 | ANDREW PAYNE | 11 |
|
|
ALCOPOP
(AUS)
5G JEUNE (GB) - IOTA OF LUCK (AUS) BLEVIC (AUS) |
M NEILSON | 53.0 | JAKE STEPHENS | 7 |
|
|
LIFE TO THE FULL
(AUS)
4G SAVOIRE VIVRE (GB) - SINIZZOR (AUS) DIEU D'OR (AUS) |
P GATT | 56.0 | KARINA O'SULLIVAN | 5 |
|
|
ROAD WORKER
(AUS)
5G GALLO DI FERRO (USA) - LOGIC IN MOTION (AUS) MIKADO (AUS) |
A PATERSON | 56.0 | ROSLYN DAY | 10 |
|
|
PRIDE OF ARCHWAY
(AUS)
7G ARCHWAY (IRE) - FINE CRYSTAL (IRE) PERSIAN BOLD (IRE) |
T BAKER | 53.0 | PHILLIP STOKES | 3 |
|
|
CIVIL
(AUS)
6G WOODMAN (USA) - LIHIR (NZ) GROSVENOR (NZ) |
D TOURNEUR | 52.5 | JOHN HICKMOTT | 3 |
|
|
LORD MICK
(NZ)
7G LORD BALLINA (AUS) - KARMAN GAL (IRE) PERSIAN BOLD (IRE) |
S PRICE | 52.5 | W J SMART | 13 |
|
|
ROMAN ARCH
(AUS)
5G ARCHWAY (IRE) - CELESTIAL OPTION (AUS) CLEAR CHOICE (USA) |
DAVID TOOTELL | 60.0 | MICK WHITTLE | 6 |
|
|
CHADING
(AUS)
4G MARAUDING (NZ) - CHA CHA (AUS) KENMARE (FR) |
W KERFORD | 52.0 | J T HALL | 12 |
|
|
EASY LANDING
(AUS)
7G MISTER C (USA) - ARCH OF GLORY (AUS) ARCHREGENT (CAN) |
J BOWDITCH | 53.0 | MARK KAVANAGH | 9 |
|
|
MY GOLDEN BRACELET
(AUS)
5G MADE OF GOLD (USA) - NATANDOLA (AUS) BLETCHALONG (AUS) |
DAMIEN HOLLAND | 51.0 | CLAYTON BROMLEY | 14 |
