The Australian Cup is next on the agenda for Gailo Chop who scored an all the way win in the Group 2 $200,000 Carlton Draught Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield today.

Gailo Chop, above, leads all of the way to win the Peter Young Stakes at Caulfield, Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Gailo Chop, above, leads all of the way to win the Peter Young Stakes at Caulfield, Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

French import Gailo Chop took up his favourite position in front and with Mark Zahra doing the numbers in his head, gave nothing else a chance and went on to record a very dominant one and a quarter lengths win.

Runner up Single Gaze ($5.50) ran her usual honest race and tried hard for second while Hartnell (4.20) struggled into third place.

Gailo Chop is now trainer Darren Weir’s top chance for the Group 1 $1.5m Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington in a fortnight and heads the market order at Ladbrokes.com.au at $3.50.

Gailo Chop has returned for the Autumn in great form with today’s win coming on the back of his first up win in the Group 3 $150,000 Ladbrokes TS Carlyon Cup (1600m) at Caulfield on February 10.

With Weir’s other big guns, Humidor, Tosen Stardom and Brave Smash all heading to the Sydney Autumn Carnival, Gailo Chop will now have to carry the hopes of the Weir stable in the Australian Cup.

“It was a terrific win and head onto the Australian Cup now,” Weir said.

“He is a great horse. He has a great racing style.”

“Just watching him them he looked to be really enjoying that. When Mark asked him to go on the corner he lengthened.”

“It was a terrific win and head onto the Australian Cup now.”

“He went at a good strong gallop but I just loved the way that he sort of looked like he was really enjoying it. It was a beautiful bring on gallop and he needed a good strong gallop to be fit enough for the 2000m in a couple of weeks.”

“I couldn’t be happier with him really.”

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.