Siblings Salute at Ellerslie

Media Release - Sunday December 26

A brilliant performance by emerging star Bankers Choice completed a dream Boxing Day for Okaharau Station owner-breeders Ross and Corrine Kearney.

With sparkling victories by a talented pair of homebred half-siblings, the South Waikato couple’s green and gold colours were put up in lights on one of New Zealand’s premier racedays.

Bankers Choice takes out the Stella Artois Championship Final (1500m) at Ellerslie Photo Credit: Trish Dunell

Jodelin Gal provided the first leg of the double with an emphatic victory in the opening race on the card, the Barfoot & Thompson 1400. It was the fifth win of a 12-start career for the five-year-old daughter of Swiss Ace, who is trained by Carl Henderson at Te Awamutu.

But that was just the beginning, as three hours later Bankers Choice exploded out of the pack to take out the $90,000 Stella Artois 1500 Championship Final (1500m).

Ridden by Michael McNab for Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh, the four-year-old Mongolian Khan gelding settled in the back half of the field and was travelling with ominous ease as the form-filled field rounded the home turn.

Bankers Choice was desperate for a gap in the straight, but once McNab guided him into clear air at the 200-metre mark, he rapidly changed gears and charged into contention.

Carolina Reaper chased bravely through the closing stages, but Bankers Choice always had the upper hand and edged her out by a short neck.

Advertisement

“He was ready to explode in the straight – he just needed a run,” McNab said. “I only got a narrow run, but I got one, and he was too good.”

Bankers Choice has now had nine starts for four wins and two placings, with the promise of much more to come.

“I was a little bit nervous coming around the turn, because a lot of our runners haven’t really had the rub of the green so far today,” Marsh said. “But once he got him out into the clear, I know the turn of foot that this horse has.

“The owners are flying. They put a lot of money into the game, and jeez they deserve a day like this. Two wins on a day like Boxing Day is just terrific. They’re here today, and it’s great to see them getting such a huge thrill.”

Bankers Choice scored back-to-back wins in June before being sidelined by a tibia injury, but he has bounced back in style this month with another impressive winning double at Te Rapa and Ellerslie.

Remarkably, the Kearneys paid just $6000 to buy Jodelin Gal and Bankers Choice’s dam Signorina from the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling, Broodmare and Mixed Bloodstock Sale at Karaka. Herself a winner over 1200 metres, Signorina is the dam of three winners from three foals to race, and she produced a colt by Little Avondale Stud’s Time Test last year before returning to Mongolian Khan. NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Stella Artois C'ship Final 1500m

Ellerslie Track: Dead(4) Time: 1:30.33
1
Bankers Choice
- 4g Mongolian Khan (AUS) x Signorina (NZ) (Conatus (AUS))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: M J Mc Nab 58
2
0.2
Carolina Reaper
- 4m Vespa (NZ) x Bonney Pepper (IRE) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: G Richardson & R Norvall Rdr: J J Fawcett 54
3
2.2
Sindacato
- 6g Per Incanto (USA) x Wansesingyee (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: R J Bergerson Rdr: L G Innes 56
4
2.4
North Of Havana
- 5m Makfi (GB) x Copacabana (NZ) (Captain Rio (GB))
Tnr: G Richardson & R Norvall Rdr: A C Goindasamy 53
5
2.5
Campionessa
- 4m Contributer (IRE) x Bella Carolina (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: J Kamaruddin 52
6
2.6
Packing Joy
- 6g Kingman (GB) x Wedding Morn (IRE) (Sadler's Wells (USA))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: D S Johnson 55
7
3.2
Tu Meke Potae
- 4g Makfi (GB) x Belle Fleur (NZ) (Danzero (AUS))
Tnr: L A Winters Rdr: R Beemud 50
8
3.3
Four Queens
- 4m Tavistock (NZ) x Diamond Deck (NZ) (Octagonal (NZ))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: K Asano 54
9
3.5
Heza Looker
- 5g Burgundy (NZ) x River Nymph (NZ) (Captain Rio (GB))
Tnr: R R Manning Rdr: M Hashizume 53.5
10
4.5
Champagne Princess
- 6m Bachelor Duke (USA) x Champagne Lady (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: D R Weatherley Rdr: S R Weatherley 55.5
11
5.4
Sonofabutcher
- 5g Buffalo Man (CAN) x Butcher's Daughter (NZ) (Pyrus (USA))
Tnr: L O'Sullivan & A Scott Rdr: C M Burdan 55
12
7.9
Bahia Emerald
- 4m Darci Brahma (NZ) x Emerald Charm (NZ) (Carnegie (IRE))
Tnr: G Richardson & R Norvall Rdr: B E Grylls 54
13
8.0
Image Of You
- 4m Pins (AUS) x Exactly Like You (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: C J Grylls 54
14
9.5
Angaria
- 5g Niagara (AUS) x San Da Secret (NZ) (Sakhee's Secret (GB))
Tnr: Debbie Sweeney Rdr: M Cameron 56
15
9.6
Tannahill
- 4g Star Witness (AUS) x Cruise Control (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: Craig & Shaun Phelan Rdr: O P Bosson 60
More Reading...
Wootton Bassett 2YOs on the March
Wootton Bassett’s star Northern Hemisphere two year-old Albert Einstein has been ruled out of Royal Ascot with a sprained joint that will require a few weeks off, but the red hot sire added two more talented debut winning juvenile colts at The Curragh overnight.
Winx to Visit Too Darn Hot
World champion racehorse Winx is set for a new chapter in her stud career this spring with an announcement from her ownership group of Peter Tighe, Debbie Kepitis and Elizabeth Treweeke that Too Darn Hot (GB) is the chosen one.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday June 3
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
$1500 Weanling Becomes $525,000 Top Lot at MM National Yearling Finale
A colt by Harry Angel set a new benchmark in Australia for his sire and topped the final day of the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale when selling for $525,000 to conclude a hugely successful two weeks of sales.
Sires With Winners - Monday June 2
Here is the full list of 40 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Blueblood Import - American-Bred Jillaroo Records First Win
Purchased at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by Ciaron Maher, the now 4yo mare Jillaroo (USA) (Curlin) initially started her racing career in the United States but after an Australian debut second at Caulfield in early May, recorded her maiden victory at Doomben.
Pride of Jenni to Visit I Am Invincible - Match Made in Heaven
Three-time Champion Sire I Am Invincible has been confirmed as the first mating for reigning Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year Pride Of Jenni, who will head to the breeding barn this season following a phenomenal racing career.
Frosty Girl impressive on debut
The Chris Waller-trained Frosty Girl made the perfect start to her career when coming from last to land the Asahi Super Dry Plate (1300m) on debut at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday June 4
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Written By Filly Dominates Warwick Farm Juvenile Contest
First seen at the two-year-old trials back in September, Marc Conners’ chestnut filly Penpel (Written By) produce a quality effort at just her second racetrack appearance, racing clear at Warwick Farm to score by more than three lengths.