Tracking the early speed set by Ecuador and the heavily backed Radipole, Balf's Choice under hard riding by Joe Bowditch wrestled the lead off a determined Radipole, in the closing stages to win by with Moss 'n' Dale back in third.
In earning his second black-type success, Balf's Choice advanced his record to 8 wins, 2 seconds and 4 thirds from 25 starts with earnings of.
The Ryan Balfour-trained gelding took eleven starts to break his maiden but has now won six of his last eight.
Fantastic, it's a big thrill for me, the biggest win of my career so far, Balfour said.
"He's a really special horse to the stable as he was named after my dad who is no longer with us.
"It was a great ride by Joey. We were a bit worried because the last runner we had
"He's got Flemington written all over him with the big track.
"There are a few options open to him, maybe even the Eclipse Stakes later in the carnival is an option.
"We will just let the dust settle, we are just overjoyed with this."
A $20,000 purchase by his trainer out of the Ducatoon Park draft at the 2014 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, Balf's Choice is the fifth foal and fourth winner out of the 4-time winning Celtic Swing mare Not Jude's Choice who is a half-sister to Group III placed Flying Spur mare Roedean who was first past the post in the $1 million Group I Blue Diamond Stakes before being taken down when she tested positive for a banned substance.
Roedean is the dam of the multiple stakes-placed Holyonny (Lonhro).
Not Jude's Choice has a 3yo colt by Americain (USA) and a 2yo filly by Dalakhani (IRE). She was covered by Stryker in 2015 but has not had a mare return submitted to the Stud Book in the last two years.
