Despite a big betting drift ($10-$18), South Australian raider Balf’s Choice took out the $150,000 Godolphin Seymour Cup (1600m) on Sunday.
Trained at Morphettville by Ryan Balfour, the five-year-old gelded son of Written Tycoon and Not Jude’s Choice was superbly ridden by SA hoop Joe Bowditch.
The gelding defeated Radipole ($10) and $3.90 favourite Moss ’n’ Dale.
The listed win gave the young trainer his career highlight.
“It’s a big thrill — it’s as big a winner as I’ve had in my career so far and he’s a really special horse for the stable,” Balfour said.
Balf’s Choice was named after the trainer’s late father, David Balfour.
The gelding now has six wins from his past eight starts including the $101,600 listed Balaklava Cup.
Track perfect for Wolf
This year’s Godolphin Seymour Cup ambassador, local apprentice Tahlia Hope, was seen at her best getting Proud Wolf ($7) home in the previous race for her father and grandfather, co-trainers Shannon and Lee Hope.
The Amadeus Wolf six-year-old gelding was a comfortable winner of the $30,000 Chase Nightclub BM78 Handicap (1000m).
The gelding was bred by John and Ellen Brown and is raced by the Flowerdale couple.
Co-trainer Shannon Hope said the gelding appreciates give in the ground and was full of praise for the track preparation and the ride by Tahlia.
“We were going to Moe (last Thursday) but the rain didn’t come until late in the afternoon and didn’t want to risk it so we decided to run here, where it was well prepared and well grassed,” he said. 
Proud Wolf has now won seven races with three minor placings from 20 starts.
The win capped a big three days for the Seymour apprentice, who rode winners at Warrnambool Friday, Wagga Saturday and Seymour.
Unfortunately, Seymour Racing Club president and former trainer Steve Clifton, couldn’t be in attendance to oversee what was a successful meeting, as he is in hospital recovering from a horrific cliff fall. All at Winning Post wish Steve a speedy recovery. 
Local makes good
Seymour-based Kiwi expat Cory Parish, had a life-changing day on Saturday when he piloted the Lindsay Park-trained Boom Time to win this year’s Group 1 $3 million BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m).
Parish, 28, relocated to Seymour from New Zealand five years ago and rode around the bush for Seymour trainers most of the time before starting as a trackwork rider at Euroa’s Lindsay Park.
In his post-race interviews, Parish thanked Shannon Hope and his stepbrother, Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Blake Shinn, for their help and advice since his arrival.
For Parish’s two minutes and 27 seconds in the saddle, he earned $87,500 as his five-percent share.
Temps all the way
Kilmore resident Kath Merton and her son, Broadford-based Brent, have had some fun with the regular border-hopper Temps Voleur.
The six-year-old Time Thief gelding, trained at Cranbourne by Robbie Laing, last Saturday won his fifth race at Morphettville and eighth overall.
The gelding, starting at $7.50, was beautifully rated in the lead over the 1950-metre journey by apprentice Emily Finnegan in taking out the $45,000 UBET BM90 Handicap, defeating Have Plenty ($5) by a nose, with Kourkam ($4) a similar margin away third.
Also part-owned by racing journalist Neale Donnelley, the gelding has now won eight races with six minor placings, earning $279,400 including $7300 in SABOIS bonuses.

Kissee KO
Quaddie punters at bet365 Park Kilmore on Tuesday were sent home with their tails between their legs when the locally owned and trained Kissee Mee, starting at $31, comfortably won the last.
Owned, trained and bred by Hanna Powell, the five-year-old daughter of Primus and Ellakeira took out the Holgate Brewhouse Woodend BM64 Handicap (1100m), depriving the Lindsay Park team of four for the day in defeating The Consigliere ($3.40 equal favourite) by 1½ lengths. The Alicia Macpherson-trained Emerenta ($6.50) was a half-length away third.
Kissee Mee was beautifully ridden by Tahlia Hope, giving the apprentice her fourth winner in five days from only eight rides.
The win was Kissee Mee’s fourth from only 13 starts.