Talented international Gailo Chop has been transferred to the care of leading Victorian trainer Darren Weir, ahead of a 2017 Autumn Racing Carnival campaign to be geared towards Group 1 targets.
Gailo Chop has been transferred to the care of Darren Weir. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos
Having been trained by notable French horseman Antoine De Watrigant since debuting partway through 2013, Gailo Chop has posted a commendable eight wins and four minors through sixteen career starts; highlighted by a classy win in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington during the 2015 Spring Carnival.
Having suffered a tendon injury during his lacklustre run for seventh in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m) at Meydan in March, OTI Racing’s Terry Henderson told Racing Victoria that the Deportivo gelding is close to beginning work under Weir, and will likely be set for the Brisbane Winter Carnival.
“Gailo Chop’s very interesting. He’s undergone tendon rehabilitation with Lee Evison, and it’s gone very well,” Henderson said.
“He’ll be back in work, full bore, in about three or four weeks.
“He may miss the Australia Cup, but he’ll be ready for later autumn, early winter.
“A race like the Hollindale, or the Doomben Cup, looms for that horse.”
Capping his debut racing preparation with a maiden black type win in the Listed Prix Des Sablonnets (1600m) in late 2013, Gailo Chop resumed in 2014 for consecutive wins in each of the Listed Prix Maurice Caillault (2000m), Group 3 Prix La Force (2000m) and Group 3 Prix Noailles (2100m).
Travelling abroad for fourth in the Group 1 Belmont Derby Invitational (2011m), Gailo Chop returned to France for a smart win in the Group 2 Haras Du Logis Saint-Germain (2000m).
2015 was undoubtedly the five-year-old’s best on record however; delivering a second place finish in the Group 1 Prix D’Ispahan (1850m) and win in the Group 3 La Coupe De Maisons-Lafitte (2000m) most notably, ahead of his win in the Mackinnon Stakes.
Gailo Chop will join a growing list of OTI Racing horses under the care of Weir, which currently include the likes of Tall Ship.
