It’s Balf’s best trip by a mile
THE much-travelled Balf’s Choice gets a chance to add another feature race win at 1600m when he makes his Queensland debut at Eagle Farm tomorrow.
Matt McGillivray will ride Balf’s Choice in the Tattersall’s Mile which is the last black-type race for the season in Queensland.
Balf’s Choice has won 10 races, seven over 1600m, including the Seymour Cup in Victoria and Balaklava Cup in South Australia.
He was the first horse voted in by the public to the inaugural $5 million All-Star Mile at Flemington in March but finished unplaced.
The gelding has done his racing in South Australia and Victoria for trainer Ryan Balfour but is not a total stranger to Queensland.
He spelled on Sunshine Coast trainer Billy Healey’s property last year and was again sent north for the winter this year after being unplaced at Sandown last month.
“I did most of the pre-training with him last year but he didn’t race here before going back south,” Healey said.
This year Balfour asked Healey to keep a watch for a race that might suit the rising seven-year-old.
“The Tattersall’s Mile looked the perfect race for him because he does like 1600 metres,” Healy said. “He has won over $500,000 so he looks well placed with only half a kilo over the limit.
“We have been taking him down to the beach and he seems to be enjoying it here.”
Balf’s Choice is likely to stay in Queensland for another couple of runs before a decision is made about him heading back south.
Healey, a former champion equestrian rider, has been gradually building up his team after the death of his father and co-trainer Dale Healey last year.