Zahra's long drive to test 2017 PB Lawrence Stakes hopeful

Brad Waters - Tuesday August 15

Jockey Mark Zahra went a long way to test his mount for Saturday's PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

Advertisement
Gailo Chop in action in the 2015 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington. Photo: Steve Hart

Zahra travelled more than 300km from Bendigo, where he rode on Sunday, to Coleraine to ride imported performer Gailo Chop in a gallop for premier trainer Darren Weir on Monday morning.

Weir often uses country tracks in Victoria's west for private jumpouts or course proper trackwork sessions to give the best of his massive team a chance to work on better surfaces.

"I have a done a couple of those trips," Zahra said. "They ask me every three or four months when they have got a lot of good horses working.'

Australian punters had a good look at Gailo Chop in the spring of 2015 where he was outclassed by Winx in that year's Cox Plate before backing up a week later to beat Rising Romance and Contributer in the Group I Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.

Zahra had his first sit on Gailo Chop at Coleraine, reporting the former French galloper gave him a solid feel but the seven-year-old would improve on his PB Lawrence Stakes outing, which will be his first since he competed in the Group I Sheema Classic (2400m) in Dubai in March last year.

"He worked all right. He just worked by himself and had a cruise around and he worked nicely enough," Zahra said.

"It was the first time I have been on him and he went all right in his gallop but whether he is forward enough yet, I'm not sure.

"I'm sure Darren has a bigger plan for him but I wouldn't think Saturday would be it for him. I think he'll run well and then improve off what he does."

Bookies have a mixed opinion of Gailo Chop's chances of a first-up win with the seven-year-old as short as $17 with Ladbrokes and CrownBet while Bet365 has the winner of eight of 16 starts at $34.

Advertisment
More Reading...
VRC Derby Favourite Strengthens His Chances With G2 Vase Win
When breaking his maiden by five lengths at just his second start last season, Ghaiyyath's colt Observer looked to have above average ability, but it was his third last start in the Group 1 MRC Caulfield Guineas (1600m) that had everybody talking about the exciting prospect.
Blueblood Lonhro Colt Wins G1 Spring Champion
At the start of August we ran a story about the 3YO’s that were entered for this year Cox Plate and aside from the usual suspects there were some ‘Cox Plate dreamers’ and one of them was unraced Lonhro colt Attica, who capped his meteoric rise to fame with a thrilling victory in the $2million Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Te Akau Win G3 War Decree Stakes with Snitzel Filly
Te Akau Racing made a blistering start to the afternoon across both New Zealand meetings on Saturday, racking up six wins in a three-hour period including with a pair of potential candidates for next month’s Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).
G2 McEwen Stakes To Jigsaw - Fifth Black Type Victory
A previous Group 2 winner at Moonee Valley a few years back, Jigsaw’s connections would’ve headed into Saturday’s Group 2 MVRC McEwen Stakes (1200m) with a level of confidence despite tackling last start Group 1 MVRC Manikato Stakes winner Charm Stone.
Stefi Magnetica Smashes Through $7m Mark
Already a dual Group1 winner, Bjorn Baker’s 5yo All Too Hard mare Stefi Magnetica added the $2m Group 2 ATC The Invitational (1400m) to her impressive record, with her earnings smashing through the $7m mark for her ownership group headed by the Cunningham family.
Von Hauke Wins G2 Crystal Mile - Half-Brother NZB Ready to Run
The Cliff Brown-trained Von Hauke swamped his rivals late under a patient rider from Ethan Brown to land the Gr.2 Crystal Mile (1600m) at The Valley on Saturday.
First Winner for Home Affairs
Exciting young sire Home Affairs opened his account with his first winner in New Zealand on Saturday with a dominant debut victory for race favourite Harvey Wallbanger at Ellerslie.
2025 Cox Plate Result - Fastnet Rock and Waller Quinella
A genuine champion sire should be able to produce the horses that win the very best races in the country in which they stand and the late great Fastnet Rock have us a demonstration of that when his high class Northern Hemisphere bred offspring Via Sistina (IRE) and Buckaroo (GB) fought out an epic finish to the $6million Group I MVRC WS Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Invincible Colt Wins $1million G2 Callander Presnell for Godolphin
Progressive I Am Invincible colt Ohope won the $1million ATC Tapp Craig (1400m) at his previous start, however was not rewarded officially with Black Type for that result, but he did achieve stakes-winner status at Randwick on Saturday when scoring a determined win over quality colt Rivellino in the $1million ATC Callander Presnell (1600m).
Lindermann Cracks $4million in Earnings
Gelded after losing form following his tenacious victory in the 2023 Group I ATC Rosehill Guineas, the Chris Waller trained Lindemann has embraced life as a gelding and has been on fire this spring racking up a series of lucrative wins including the $750,000 Group III ATC Craven Plate (1800m) at Randwick on Saturday.