Damien Oliver will stick with last Sunday’s Underwood Stakes placegetter Gailo Chop in the 2019 Group 1 $5m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 26.
Damien Oliver will ride Gailo Chop, above, in the 2019 Cox Plate at The Valley. Photo by Steve Hart.
Gailo Chop is on the comeback trail from injury under the care of Warrnambool trainer Matthew Williams and Oliver was aboard the nine year old’s second run back for an encouraging third behind the rejuvenated Black Heart Bart and Homesman in the Group 1 $750,000 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield last Sunday.
Williams was happy for Oliver to confirm that he would stick with Gailo Chop in the weight for age Championship and the two times Cox Plate winning jockey will also partner the European import in the Group 1 $1m Ladbrokes Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 12.
“Damien Oliver confirmed he will ride him in the Cox Plate,” Williams told racing.com.
“When he got off after the Underwood, he said he will definitely ride him next in the Caulfield Stakes (Ladbrokes Stakes) but Terry (Henderson, managing owner) was keen for someone to commit to the Cox Plate as well and we got that from Damien this morning (Monday).
“He now knows what tempo he needs to be running well and the horse is taking great benefit out of these races.”
Gailo Chop showed tremendous improvement at his second run back in the Underwood Stakes after only beating two runners home when thirteenth first up to Gatting in the Group 1 $750,000 PFD Food Services Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 14.
Gailo Chop is a three times Group 1 winner on Australian soil with victories in the 2015 $1m Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington, in the 2017 $1m Caulfield Stakwes (2000m) at Caulfield and in the 2018 $700,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill.
Early betting at Ladbrokes.com.au for the 2019 Cox Plate has Gailo Chop marked at $31 while Avilius, Lys Gracieux and Mystic Journey share favouritism at $6.
Early betting for the 2019 Cox Plate at Ladbrokes.com.au: $6 Avilius, Mystic Journey, Lys Gracieux, $9 Homesman, $14 Danceteria, $15 Mr Quickie, $17 Kluger, Verry Eleegant, $19 Latrobe, Melody Belle, $26 Magic Wand, Rostropovich, Te Akau Shark, Yucatan, $31 Castelvecchio, Dalasan, Gatting, Hartnell, Humidor, Gailo Chop, $34 or better the rest.
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