Bankers Choice lands 2025 Caulfield Cup ticket at Mornington

Bankers Choice secured a coveted berth in the 2025 Caulfield Cup with a gritty win in Saturday’s Mornington Cup, giving trainer Glen Thompson a career highlight.

The 2400m feature offered a golden ticket into the Group 1 Caulfield Cup, and Bankers Choice made the most of the opportunity, edging out the Maher-trained pair Strawberry Rock and Smokin’ Romans in a tight finish.

Ridden with precision by Daniel Stackhouse, Bankers Choice ($10) prevailed by a short-half-head over Strawberry Rock ($21), while Smokin’ Romans ($21) finished 1¼ lengths behind in third place.

After watching the head-on replay, Strawberry Rock’s rider Teo Nugent chose not to challenge the result via protest.

Thompson, who took over training duties after Mike Moroney’s sudden passing in February, was full of praise for the team and horse after the victory.

“It’s amazing,” said Moroney’s racing manager Anthony Feroce. “We aimed for the Caulfield Cup last spring after his Sandown Classic second, but his form dipped. This time, he’s really hit his straps.”

Stackhouse, who won last year’s edition of the Mornington Cup, has formed a strong partnership with Bankers Choice in recent months.

“Stacky took a different approach with him at Moonee Valley — going forward — and it’s worked wonders,” Feroce noted. “The race unfolded exactly how we hoped, and he finished powerfully.”

Looking ahead, Feroce said the Warrnambool Cup on May 1 is an option, although a more cautious spring build-up may be considered.

“He might be better with a shorter freshen-up. Last year’s long break didn’t suit him, so we’ll take that into account,” he said.

Bankers Choice carried the same silks as Aktau, who won the Mornington Cup in 2020 but missed the Caulfield Cup later that season. This time, connections are optimistic the story will end differently.