Gailo Chop will contest the 2015 Hong Kong Cup and co-owner Terry Henderson has revealed that the talented gelding could be set for the 2016 Dubai World Cup if he performs well in the Group 1 event at Sha Tin on December 13.
Gailo Chop is set to take on the likes of Designs On Rome and Criterion in the 2015 Hong Kong Cup. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Gailo Chop was purchased by OTI Racing after he took out the Group 2 Prix Guillaume D’Ornano (2000m) at Deauville in France on August 15 and he made his debut for his new owners with a second place finish behind Solow in the Group 1 Prix D’Ispahan (1850m) at Longchamp on May 24 before he failed to fire in the Group 1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (2011m) at Royal Ascot on June 17.
The son of Deportivo returned to his best form with a win in the Group 3 La Coupe De Maisons-Laffitte (2000m) on September 18 and he was far from disgraced in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 24 before he recorded a maiden win at the highest level of racing in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 31.
The decision was made to send Gailo Chop to Sha Tin for the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) on December 13 following his Mackinnon Stakes victory and Henderson revealed that the Group 1 Dubai World Cup (2000m), Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) and Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) are potential long-term targets for Gailo Chop depending on how he performs in the Hong Kong Cup.
“He has just been checked out thoroughly this morning for Hong Kong and overnight Christophe Soumillion confirmed that he will take the ride on him,” Henderson said.
“He will head up to Hong Kong on Monday week and he will have strong gallop at Geelong on Saturday week and then have 10 days in Hong Kong before the race.
“After Hong Kong if he runs well we will seriously consider the World Cup and the alternative to that is we take him back to France and see what kind of arrangement Sydney have in mind and possibly bring him back for the Queen Elizabeth.
“We have little reservation stepping him up for a mile and a half next year and possibly coming back for the Cup next year.”
Gailo Chop is currently available at 2015 Hong Kong Cup odds of $12, while Designs On Rome ($4) is a narrow favourite from Criterion ($4.50), Staphanos ($9), Got Fly ($10), Blazing Speed ($10) and Military Attack ($11).
