A CHOICE CRACK AT CUPS DOUBLE

CHURCHILL’S Choice will attempt to become the first horse this century to complete the Hawkesbury Cup – Scone Cup double in the same year.

Trainer Nathan Doyle confirmed a start in Friday week’s Big Dance eligibility $200,000 Scone Cup (1600m) after she overpowered her opposition to take yesterday’s $250,000 Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup over the same distance.

Whilst no horse has won both races in the same year since the turn of the century, two have done the double – but in different years.

Huge Demand won the Hawkesbury Cup in 2000 and Scone Cup two years later, whilst Keepin’ The Dream scored at Hawkesbury in 2009 and at Scone the following year.

Twelve months ago Churchill’s Choice was runner-up to Depth Of Character in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1600m), and yesterday was her first success since also scoring over the Royal Randwick “mile” in December 2024.

At that time she had been unbeaten in her first three starts.

Ridden by Regan Bayliss, Churchill’s Choice ($26 after longer odds were offered) surged down the extreme outside of the track to defeat Palmetto ($19) and War Eternal ($31) in an all-roughies’ finish.

There was a real Newcastle flavour to the four-year-old daughter of Churchill’s triumph.

Not only is she trained at Newcastle, but her dam She’s Choice was prepared here for several starts be Jason Deamer.

And She’s Choice is a daughter of iconic Newcastle trainer Paul Perry’s international champ Choisir.

Doyle’s stable manager David Dyson says Churchill’s Choice is a tricky mare to ride, and Bayliss suits her perfectly.

“Regan came to Gosford to ride stablemate Mercy Me in an 800m trial at Gosford (which she won), and Nathan got him to trial Churchill’s Choice as well,” Dyson said today.

“The mare has a habit of fitting a flat spot between the 500m and 300m, and Nathan offered him the Hawkesbury Cup ride after that trial.

“He has been offered the Scone Cup mount, and I’ll be surprised if she says ‘no’.he

“Regan also won a trial at Gosford the same day on Churchill’s Choice’s younger half-sister Emalyn (both were bred by their owner Kevin Hill, who has been unwell).”

Along with a Group 3 victory, Doyle also was successful with hotpot Just Response at his home meeting at Newcastle.

The $1.30 favorite, ridden by Mitchell Bell, took the Midway Benchmark 68 Handicap (1250m).

It was the lightly-raced Justify three-year-old’s second win on end, and third from only six starts.

In fact, Just Response has not missed being placed in all six runs.

There was further good news for the stable when apprentice Liberty Smyth landed her first provincial winner when successful on Port Macquarie trainer Marc Quinn’s Auzstar ($7.50) in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1500m).

It was the Central Queensland native’s first day of riding at a provincial meeting.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, MAY 3, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS