The Freedman Brothers are searching for a new rider for Cool Chap in the Group 1 $500,000 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville on Saturday after Daniel Stackhouse was suspended at Ballarat on Sunday.
Cool Chap, above, will need a new jockey to replace the suspended Daniel Stackhouse in the South Australian Derby at Morphettville. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Stackhouse pleaded guilty to careless riding after causing interference at the 200m mark in the 1400m Maiden Plate and was hit with a ten meeting suspension and will miss Saturday’s South Australian Derby meeting.
Stackhouse was set to keep the ride on Cool Chap after the pair combined to win the Listed $200,000 VRC St Leger (2800m) at Flemington on April 25 and was keen on his chances.
“You definitely know he’ll get the trip and he’s got the class to go against the good horses,” Stackhouse said.
Co-trainer Lee Freedman was also keen on the chances of Cool Chap in the South Australian Derby before the barrier draw which saw the three year old come up with the outside barrier in the final field of sixteen plus one emergency.
“He’s a genuine horse and he stays well,” Freedman told AAP.
Cool Chap has only had three runs for Lee and Anthony Freedman and scored first up for the stable with a win in a 2000m three year old Handicap at Caulfield on March 26 followed by a second to South Australian Derby rival Charlevoix in Listed $150,000 Ladbrokes Galilee Series Final (2400m) at Sandown on April 9 before winning the VRC St Leger.
Freedman said that Cool Chap would miss the Spring Carnival no matter what the result was in the South Australian Derby and head to the paddock for good spell.
“He’s been a bit of a revelation. He’s a lovely horse, but we probably won’t push on for a big spring campaign,” Freedman said.
“He’s a bit immature yet and I’m giving him a relatively big autumn, so we’ll probably be a bit light on him in the spring.”
Early betting for the South Australian Derby at Ladbrokes.com.au has Cool Chap the equal second favourite at $6 with the Darren Weir trained Howard Be Thy Name with the Mick Kent trained Charlevoix at the top of the market order at $4.20.
