Jockey Brendan Ward hopes he has pulled the right rein selecting Coliseo as his mount in today's $22,000 Moruya Cup (1930m).
The 38-year-old Canberra-based rider was in the enviable position of two other offers on leading chances - Angelos Lucky Boy and Micalong.
''It was one of those tough calls you sometimes have to make in racing,'' Ward said.
''Basically I've been involved with all three horses. In the end I plumped for Coliseo.
''His strong last-start win at Kembla in what was a metropolitan meeting swayed me.
''They say jockeys are the worst judges. Hopefully I've made the right call.''
Formerly from Wodonga before shifting to Canberra two years ago, Ward said he had been in a similar position previously in his career.
''When you're riding a few winners sometimes these sorts of things come up,'' he said.
''It's funny. I was only having a laugh with Grant Buckley the other day about the situation. He reckons it's mostly the one you knock back gets up and beats you.
''If that happened to be the case tomorrow I'd be the first to congratulate Grant and be happy for the connections too.''
Buckley partners the Gratz Vella-trained Angelos Lucky Boy, which Ward has ridden at its past three starts for two wins.
Ward has never won the Moruya feature but considers the lightly raced Norm Gardner-trained five-year-old a great chance.
''I was aboard Not Just A Pretty Face for Matthew Dale in the 2000m Kembla race Coliseo won last start [January 11],'' Ward said.
''Coliseo was actually behind me. When he got out he let down really well, sprinted right away off a fast tempo.''
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