Trainer Nathan Doyle experienced a blend of excitement and relief following Churchill’s Choice’s victory, achieved almost hugging the outer fence.
“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.”
The $26 chance Churchill’s Choice, under jockey Regan Bayliss, surged along the outside to claim the Hawkesbury Gold Cup by half a length over Palmetto at $19, with War Eternal at $31 the same distance back in third, edging out Taken who was $3.30 favourite.
Sydney owner Carl Holt came close in this event, as his royal blue and red vee silks adorned the jockeys of those finishing second, third and fourth.
Certain TAB punters will cherish this outcome, with the Trifecta returning $6739.10 and the First Four a huge $53,067.20.
According to Doyle, altering the riding approach was key to Churchill’s Choice delivering her top performance to date.
“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.”
Jockey Bayliss noted that responding to Doyle’s request to partner Churchill’s Choice in a Gosford trial recently made all the difference 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.”
This marked just the third start for Churchill’s Choice since her spell, and the Hawkesbury success earns her entry into the $3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day, the first Tuesday in November.
However, Doyle has nearer-term intentions for the mare, eyeing a tilt at the Listed $200,000 Scone Cup (1600m) at Scone on May 15.
Explore the top Australian betting sites for the best Hawkesbury Gold Cup markets.