An $80,000 NZB Ready to Run purchase for Cumani Racing last year, Anders gelding Single Choice is a three year-old on the improve and took the $300,000 Group II MRC Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday as favourite.
Trained by Matt Cumani and ridden by Damian Lane, Single Choice closed out his spring campaign with a third in the Group III VRC Carbine Club Stakes to Panova and was second up from a spell in this assignment.
He settled a long way back and only loomed into contention with 100m to run, doing his best work to the line to win by a long neck over Arcora, who was second in the Group I VRC Victoria Derby last spring.
“It was great for Single Choice to get a big victory like that as he’s been knocking on the door of a really good win,” said Matt Cumani.
“Stepping up in distance really helped him.”
Single Choice has the tidy record of three wins and three placings from eight starts with prizemoney just shy of $300,000.
Single Choice was offered at the NZB Ready to Run Sale by Riversley Park, who purchased him from the Kingstar Farm draft at Inglis Classic for $80,000.
Bred by Kingstar Farm, he is the best of two winners from four foals to race from stakes-winning Sebring mare Sebring Sally, a half-sister to Group III winner Roy’s Riviera with third dam Donna Cara, a stakes-winner by Sir Tristram (IRE) at 2100m.
Sebring Sally has not had a foal the past two years and was covered by Artorius last spring.
Single Choice is the second stakes-winner for Anders, who has an interesting entry for the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale next month in the Widden Stud draft.
