Cup An International Contest

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.