After Churchill’s Choice’s near-rail triumph on the outside, trainer Nathan Doyle was filled with joy and release.
“She has been a frustrating mare as she’s always had the ability but hasn’t won one of these stakes races,” Doyle said.
“But she’s got that good win now and I’m really happy for her owner, Kevin (Hill). He has been quite crook and is in hospital in Brisbane so hopefully that picks him up.”
Regan Bayliss aboard the $26 Churchill’s Choice flew externally to take the Hawkesbury Gold Cup by a half length ahead of $19 Palmetto, War Eternal ($31) third a matching distance away, nosing out $3.30 Taken.
For top Sydney owner Carl Holt, disappointment struck as his royal blue and red vee was carried by the jockeys placing second through fourth.
This led to big payouts for select TAB players, with Trifecta at $6739.10 and First Four an enormous $53,067.20.
Doyle credited a tactical riding switch for unlocking Churchill’s Choice’s best career result.
“We took her back to the trials because we thought she might be a mad fresh horse,” Doyle said.
“She went so well first-up but then was a bit plain at her next run.”So, I got Regan up for the trial as she can hit a flat spot between the 500m and the 300m.
“She is probably dropping back two to three lengths and that’s where she has been losing her races.
“But you could see today that Regan got on his ‘bike’ at the 500m and got her into the race.”
Answering Doyle’s call for a Gosford barrier trial ride on Churchill’s Choice proved crucial for Bayliss at Hawkesbury.
“I’m glad I trialled her as that flat spot can cost her races,” Bayliss said.
“I just wanted to have her within striking range today and when she started to think about ‘dropping’ at the 500m, I kept at her.
“Once she got balanced up in the straight, she had to show a really good turn of foot today but she was strong to the line.”
It was Churchill’s Choice’s third appearance back from a break, with the Hawkesbury result booking her spot in the $3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Royal Randwick for Melbourne Cup Day, the first Tuesday in November.
Doyle, though, eyes something closer, contemplating the Listed $200,000 Scone Cup (1600m) at Scone on May 15.
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