Another Kiwi Bred Cup Winner, Banker's Choice Salutes at Ballarat

Media Release - Saturday November 19

Former Kiwi galloper Bankers Choice ran out a ready winner of the A$500,000 Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) on Saturday for trainer Michael Moroney.

 John Allen celebrates as Bankers Choice cruises to victory in the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) Photo: Bruno Cannatelli

It was just reward for the five-year-old son of Mongolian Khan, who has been around the mark in a host of features since crossing the Tasman and has raced without luck this spring, including a close-up sixth in the Gr.1 Champions Stakes (2000m) behind Zaaki a fortnight ago.

Jumping from an inside barrier, jockey John Allen had Bankers Choice positioned just forward of midfield for much of the contest. After appearing to be under pressure rounding the home turn, Bankers Choice found another gear when switched to the better ground centre-track, cruising to a two and a quarter-length victory over Atishu, another former Kiwi.

"He deserved a nice win, he's a very smart horse,” said Moroney, who was celebrating his first Ballarat Cup triumph.

“He's a bit quirky but he's got real ability and it's just been a matter of getting things right. I was a bit worried before they turned for him when he had to put one on his bum to get him going, but he did quicken up really well.

"This is the first Ballarat Cup that I've won. I did have one run in the 1990's when I first came over from New Zealand, so it's been a long time trying to win it and it's good to finally have done it."

Moroney said Bankers Choice was a horse that has really improved through his spring campaign.

“He's a really tough horse and you have to treat him that way,” he said. “I was worried about him in the early part of the spring. He just wasn't looking right and working a bit below average for him, but he did turn the corner later in the spring like a few of my team.

Advertisement

"He'll go to the paddock now and he can go to Sydney again for the autumn, all going well. He ran sixth in the Doncaster (Gr.1, 1600m), so we'll map a program for him in Sydney, I would think."

It was the first win on Australian soil for Bankers Choice, with the tough gelding an impressive winner of the Gr.3 Anniversary Handicap (1600m) at Trentham back in January, beating subsequent Group One winner Coventina Bay.

Bred and raced by South Waikato farming couple Ross and Corrine Kearney under their Okaharau Station, Bankers Choice won five of his ten starts for Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh before a majority interest was sold to clients of the Moroney stable in a private transaction.

Out of the Conatus mare Signorina, Bankers Choice is a half-brother to stakes placed mare Jodelin Gal and six-time winner In Fiore.

The Kearneys have got a Time Test two-year-old out of Signorina and a yearling full brother to Bankers Choice, with the mare due to foal to Ace High this year.

The multiple stakes winner is the best performer to date by Mongolian Khan, with the triple Group One winning stayer standing at Windsor Park Stud near Cambridge. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Sportsbet Ballarat Cup LR 2000m

Ballarat Track: Heavy(8) Time: 2:08.28
1
Bankers Choice
- 5g Mongolian Khan (AUS) x Signorina (NZ) (Conatus (AUS))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: John Allen 57
2
2.3
Atishu
- 5m Savabeel (AUS) x Posy (NZ) (No Excuse Needed (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: D Oliver 57
3
2.5
Sirileo Miss
- 5m Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x She's Sirius (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Symon Wilde Rdr: B Mc Dougall 54
Pride Of Dubai
4
3.4
Future Score
- 8g Cape Cross (IRE) x Theola (IRE) (Kalanisi (IRE))
Tnr: Matthew Cumani Rdr: Fred W Kersley 54
5
3.6
Foxy Frida
- 5m Foxwedge (AUS) x Family Portrait (AUS) (Excellent Art (GB))
Tnr: Andrew Noblet Rdr: Patrick Moloney 54.5
6
3.8
Dark Dream
- 8g All American (AUS) x Buchanan Girl (AUS) (Lion Hunter (AUS))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: D W Stackhouse 54.5
7
5.3
Flash Aah
- 7g Lucas Cranach (GER) x Never Despair (AUS) (Hotel Grand (AUS))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: Jordan Childs 54.5
8
6.1
Lord Vladivostok
- 6g Tavistock (NZ) x Soviet Lu (NZ) (Soviet Star (USA))
Tnr: Michael Hickmott Rdr: H Coffey 54
9
6.8
Bermadez
- 6g Tavistock (NZ) x Pikea (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: C Newitt 54
10
21.8
Tokorangi
- 5m Redwood (GB) x Agent Ziva (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: D Moor 54
More Reading...
Wootton Bassett and Camelot 2YO Colts Win Final French Group Ones
The last French Group I races of their flat season were run on Sunday and Aidan O’Brien produced the winners of both the Group I Criterium International (1600m) and Group I Criterium de Saint Cloud (1800m).
From FNQ To Sha Tin - Aussie Bred Sprinter Wins G2 Premier Bowl
Some horses arrive in Hong Kong with a very different back story - Fresh from winning the $20million The Everest with Ka Ying Rising, David Hayes was back in the winner’s list at Sha Tin on Sunday when Tomodachi Kokoroe won the Group II Premier Bowl (1200m).
Sires With Winners - Friday October 24
Here is the full list of 60 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Second Wootton Bassett Son Added to Coolmore Stallion Roster for 2026
Set to join Camille Pissarro as the second G1 winning son of Wootton Bassett on the stallion roster for Ireland in 2026 is Henri Matisse, who this time last year was about to claim his first G1 victory at the Breeders Cup meeting at Del Mar.
A Century of NZB National Yearling Sales Success: Cox Plate
Moonee Valley’s A$6m Group One WS Cox Plate (2040m) is known as the weight-for-age championship of Australasia and has been won by many of Australia and New Zealand’s greatest thoroughbreds.
Doubtland 2YO All On Red Smashes Them Again at Ascot
Widden Stud's Doubtland has a potential 2YO topliner in Perth in the shape of exciting WA colt All On Red, who remains undefeated from two starts after another comprehensive Ascot Saturday win.
Early Return Home for Cogburn
Group I winning Not This Time son Cogburn (USA) will return to WinStar Farm in Kentucky earlier than planned after disappointing fertility results during his first Australian covering season at Widden Stud.
Yes Yes Yes 3YO Shooting for G2 on Monday
Last year’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) set Savaglee up for Group One glory in Christchurch, and Matamata trainer Pam Gerard is hoping to follow a similar blueprint in 2025 with her Yes Yes Yes 3YO Affirmative Action..
Sires With Winners - Sunday October 26
Here is the full list of 74 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Hi Yo Sass Bomb Wins G3 on Sunday
Kim Reid bypassed a Group One in favour of Sunday’s Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham with Hi Yo Sass Bomb, a decision that paid dividends when the mare led from the outset to claim her third stakes success.