With two of the 12 runners in Saturday's G1 Australian Cup (2000m) carrying the 'Aus' suffix, victory looks likely to go to one of the many international-bred runners, and the in-form Darren Weir-trained Gailo Chop (Fr) (Deportivo {GB}) has been in sensational form this time in, going two-for-two.
A first-up win in the G3 Carlyon Cup (1600m) on Feb. 10 before victory in the G2 Peter Young S. (1800m) on Feb. 24, the Mark Zahra-ridden gelding is a winner of three of his last five starts with a win over 2000m in the G1 Caulfield S. back in the spring over Johannes Vermeer (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) coming before a solid fifth to Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {USA}) in the Cox Plate.
Solid in his two runs back from a break, the effort from the Godolphin-owned Hartnell (GB) (Authorized {Ire}) behind Gailo Chop last time out sees him in with a strong chance here, as does the mare Single Gaze (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}), who split the pair. A winner over 2000m as a 3-year-old, the mare is nothing but consistent, having finished no further back than fifth in six of her past seven starts, all at Group 1 level bar her last start second in the G2 Peter Young S.
Impressing in his first Australian start, the Liam Howley-trained Homesman (War Front) defeated stablemate Almandin (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), who he will once again meet here, when recording a narrow win in the Listed Mornington Cup Prelude over 2000m.
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