Bankers Choice has punched his ticket to the 2025 Caulfield Cup with a determined win in Saturday’s Mornington Cup.

The Listed feature not only awarded the winner a significant payday, but also a golden ticket into October’s Group 1 2400-metre Caulfield Cup, and Bankers Choice seized the opportunity with a gutsy performance.

Trained by Glen Thompson and guided by Daniel Stackhouse, Bankers Choice ($10) prevailed in a tight finish, defeating the Ciaron Maher-trained Strawberry Rock ($21) by a short-half-head, with stablemate Smokin’ Romans ($21) another 1¼ lengths back in third.

Teo Nugent, aboard Strawberry Rock, took a close look at the race replay before ultimately deciding against protesting the result.

The win was particularly significant for Thompson, who has taken over the training of Bankers Choice following the sudden passing of his co-trainer Mike Moroney earlier this year.

Bankers Choice had last been seen winning over 2400m at Caulfield on March 15, and Saturday’s effort solidified his credentials heading into spring.

“It’s amazing,” said Moroney’s longtime racing manager Anthony Feroce. “The plan was last spring to get him into the Caulfield Cup after he ran second in the Sandown Classic the year before.

“Unfortunately, he ran poorly during the spring, but he’s been in great order this time in, and everyone has done a great job.”

Stackhouse, who also won last year’s Mornington Cup aboard Esti Feny, has developed a strong connection with Bankers Choice.

“Stacky, he jumped on him at Moonee Valley one day and we decided to do something a bit different, go forward,” Feroce explained. “It worked and ever since he’s been a different horse.

“The race worked out perfectly. We got into the position we thought we would get into and he hit the line really well.”

Feroce said a start in the Warrnambool Cup on May 1 remains an option, but there’s also the possibility of focusing solely on a spring campaign.

“Otherwise, we could just look towards the spring,” Feroce said. “But he’s the type of horse that going into the spring last year he had his longest spell, and it didn’t suit the horse. He might be one that likes being in the stable and likes a freshen up.”

Bankers Choice carried the same colours worn by 2020 Mornington Cup winner Aktau, who unfortunately didn’t make it to the Caulfield Cup later that season. This time, connections are hopeful their path to the big one will stay on track.