Hayes team banking on Q22 by Choice

[Wandering Eyes]

While the focus of racing over the week ahead will be on the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m), the Lindsay Park training team will be similarly honed in on the Gr.2 The Q22 (2200m) where Bankers Choice (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) lines up as a genuine chance.

As the Hayes boys – Ben, Will and JD – await the 1400-metre Stradbroke barrier draw on Tuesday with race favourite War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel), Bankers Choice rises to a suitable distance in the $1.2 million Group Two event on the undercard.

“He’s a very straightforward horse,” Ben said.

“He came to us in great form and we thought his run the other day was very good with a while between runs.”

Bankers Choice finished third after leading into the straight in the Gr.3 Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m) at Eagle Farm in what was at the time of running a Heavy 8 surface.

The meeting was called off one race later but it also signified the first time that the seven-year-old had met such a heavily rain affected track since finishing second in the Gr.2 JRA Plate (2000m) at Randwick in April 2023.

The 2200-metre trip of The Q22 sees the gelding return to a distance he has shown to be comfortable with having won the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) two starts back on April 19 which earned a placing in the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) in October.

“He had the trial (at Caulfield Heath) because it was a while between those runs and the Eagle Farm run was a good pipe opener for this really good prizemoney race,” Ben added.

“He’s shown that he can get to the trip and I think the 2220-metres should be ideal.”

Brisbane’s weather forecast towards Saturday has maximum temperatures ranging from 19 to 23 degrees with no rain expected as of Monday.

Bankers Choice is rated an $11 chance across all-in markets for The Q22 with last start Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) second-placegetter Fawkner Park (Zoffany) the $2.50 favourite.

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