Correct Choice rebounded from a first-up disappointment to score in the $100,000 TABtouch Stakes (1600m) at Belmont, ending the winning run of Too Dardy.

The son of So You Think left trainer Michael Grantham miffed when he failed to land a telling blow in the Farnley Stakes (1400m) a fortnight ago, fading to finish sixth and almost five lengths behind Too Dardy.

But forgiving punters supported the six-year-old from $12 down to $7.50 as Joey Azzopardi took his first mount on the gelding in more than two years.

Despite being only the second horse against the rail, Azzopardi kept the galloper four lengths off pacesetter Royal Law ($34), anticipating that he would have to extricate from the heels of the longshot leader.

At the 500m, Azzopardi was able to shoulder one-off the inside and soon forced Searchin’ Times ($4.40) even deeper to obtain open air upon straightening.

By the 200m, Correct Choice stormed to the front, however, nemesis Too Dardy was looming in his mirrors and throwing down a stern challenge.

But anchored by a 60kg impost and a five-kilo weight swing from their meeting two weeks earlier, Too Dardy came up a short neck short on Correct Choice.

Liam Peters, grandson of owners Bob and Sandra Peters, said the camp had entered the Farnley full of optimism but had their confidence dashed.

“That’s what we expected to see from him last time and thankful to see it today,” Peters said.

“Even at the 600m, just the way he was travelling on the bridle as opposed to last time where he’d already come off the bridle at that stage, I thought he was going to take himself a fair way into it.

“But he really toughed it out nicely. Great ride by Joey, he got him out into the clear, so I couldn’t be happier.”

Peters said the capable performed could handle a rise to Listed company, especially over longer journeys in coming months.

“The way he did that today, you’d think so. If he can keep showing it, that might be the plan,” he said.

“But he doesn’t really need to step out over any further at this stage. He played around at 1200m and 1400m for a fair while as a three-year-old, but it would be nice to see him step out over a 2000m trip across the carnival.”

Azzopardi had previously ridden the gelding to a ninth and a third as a maiden three-year-old.

“Very happy. I got a lovely run throughout,” Azzopardi said.

“In the run, I actually thought I might’ve been a little bit close because no one filled that spot in front of me.

“But the key with him today today was just keeping him travelling as long as I could and when the run’s presented, he hit the line really well.”

The winning rider said he was conscious that he would need to find clear running at some stage with a vulnerable horse ahead of him.

“I was thinking that at about the 1400m mark,” Azzopardi said.

“I was able to work my way off his back and the runs presented at the right time.

“He’s probably going to improve as he steps up again and you can’t take anything away from today.

“The second horse was tough in defeat but he’s a horse in great form, so he’s done a great job to beat him.”

Earlier, Jefferson Tsang enjoyed a winning start to his Saturday metropolitan riding career when he guided Dawn Dancer ($1.80f) and Let’s Talk ($4.60) home in the opening two races.