Front-running French import Gailo Chop (FR) gave OTI Racing a day to remember when defying the challenge of the Aidan O'Brien-trained Johannes Vermeer (IRE) in Saturday's $1 million Group I Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield.
The OTI colours were carried to victory by Lord Fandango (GER) in the Group II Ladbrokes Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) and by Aloisia in the Group I $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m).
Winner of the Group I Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) in 2015 when trained by Antoine De Watrigant, Gailo Chop (FR) was off the scene for 15 months due to a tendon injury suffered when unplaced in the Group I Sheema Classic at Meydan.
He reappeared with an unplaced effort behind Hartnell in the Group II P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 19.
The Darren Weir-trained gelding bounced back to win the Listed Penny Edition Stakes at Morphettville three weeks later
At his most recent start, Gailo Chop (FR) was third in the Group I Underwood Stakes won by Bonneval.
Mark Zahra took up the front-running role on Gailo Chop (FR) and he was strong to the line in defeating Johannes Vermeer (IRE) who impressed on his Australian debut, by a half a neck with Jon Snow two and a half lengths back in third. (photos Grant Courtney)
"He has got fitter and stepped up in distance and it just looked like a race today that if he could get to the front he would be able to control it," Weir told AAP.
"He got some cheap sectionals down the back and then gave a good kick.
"He might not have wanted it to be much further but the winning post is there for a reason."
"He'll go to the Cox Plate for sure.
"Obviously it will be good to have a runner in the Cox Plate but when you see Winx last week, it will be hard for anything to beat her."
As a three-year-old, Gailo Chop (FR) won four of his five starts including the Listed Prix Maurice Caillault over 2000m at Saint-Cloud, Group III Prix La Force over 2000m at Longchamp, Group III Prix Noailles over 2100m at Longchamp, and Group II Prix Guillaume over 2000m at Deauville.
Bred and previously raced by Alain Chopard, the 7yo gelding is a son the Juddmonte homebred Deportivo who was a pure sprinter winning the Balmoral Handicap (1000m) at Royal Ascot at two and Group II Flying Five (1000m) at The Curragh at three.
Deportivo is a son of the Northern Dancer stallion Night Shift a former shuttler to Woodlands Stud.
Gailo Chop is the fifth foal and first winner for his dam Grenoble whose 31 start career yielded just one win.
She is a daughter of Blushing Groom's French Derby runner-up Marignan.
