Balf's Choice edges Seymour Cup

Darryl Sherer - Sunday October 22

South Australian visitor Balf's Choice proved strongest in Sunday's Listed Seymour Cup (1600m).

Advertisement
Jockey Joe Bowditch timed his run to perfection delivering the Seymour Cup aboard Balf's Choice. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Enjoying a lovely run to the home turn settled just behind the leaders Ecuador and Moss 'N' Dale, Balf's Choice ($18) was presented three wide into the home straight by Joe Bowditch, holding out Radipole ($10) on his outside to score by a head in a driving finish with Moss 'N' Dale ($3.90 fav) a short neck away third.

Joe Bowditch told Racing Victoria he had the perfect trip aboard the Ryan Balfour-trained Balf's Choice.

"We had a beautiful run, got into the one out one back and settled into a beautiful rhythm," Bowditch said.

"He switched off really nice for me then just hit a bit of a flat spot coming around the corner.

"He took a little bit to wind up but he was good on the line."

Balf's Choice won the Balaklava Cup over 1600m two starts back and Bowditch said the five-year-old son of Written Tycoon was still improving.

"He's a nice horse, a horse that has progressed this time in - he's really come into his own," Bowditch said.

"Full credit to Ryan, I can't say enough good things about him, his stats this year speak for themselves and I can't thank him enough for bringing me over for today."

Balf's Choice is named in honour of trainer Ryan Balfour's late father, David. Balfour said the win meant a lot to the stable.

"It's a big thrill for me - it's the equal of any win I've had so far and he's a really special horse to the stable," Balfour said.

"We didn't go to Murray Bridge for the Cup on Friday, the track was in good order but it's undulating and we didn't think he'd be at his best coming down the hill and this race looked a better option.

"He's got Flemington written all over him with the big track so there's a few options there."

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 30
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Resolute Racing Purchase Top Lot Goffs Orby Day 1
The Goffs Orby Yearling Sale kicked off overnight and the top lot on Day 1 was a colt by Blue Point purchased by John Stewart’s Resolute Bloodstock for €675,000, while Wootton Bassett produced the top selling filly, whose half-brother Trinity College is now in Australia.
Youngsters Impress Leading into Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale
The build up to the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale has intensified with a swag of impressive breeze up performances over the past week.
Karaka Million Dreaming for Out of the Blue
Te Akau Racing marketing manager Julia-Rose Hayes has had plenty of success syndicating horses selected by her father, David Ellis, and that has continued with her latest syndicate.
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.
Goffs Orby Day 2 - Trio of Million Dollar Yearling Fillies
The second day of the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale took off overnight with three individual yearlings selling for a million or more with the full sister to dual Group I winning champion 2YO Colt Blackbeard selling for €1.9 million to MV Magnier.
2025 G1 The Metropolitan Field and Barrier Draw
Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher are set to have half of the Group I Metropolitan field between them with the Waller trained Birdman an easing favourite after drawing a wide gate for Saturday’s race.
She's Unusual Keeps Good Times Rolling
Continued success with resident stallion Unusual Suspect and their racing team has kept Nigel and Adaire Auret busier than they may have envisaged, but without any complaints.
Equimillion This Long Weekend – Draws and Start Lists
Racing NSW have their annual Equimillion event coming up this long weekend at Sydney International Equestrian Centre at Horsley Park and for people interested in off the trackers it’s a showcase for the sport, so let’s take a look at who’s who in the zoo.
2025 G1 Epsom Handicap Field and Barrier Draw
The field and barrier draw has been decided for the Group I Epsom Handicap on Saturday with odds-on favourite and unbeaten mare Autumn Glow drawing the extreme outside gate in a field of 14.