Champion Victorian trainer Darren Weir earned his first Group 1 win in Sydney in Saturday's $700,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and it could hardly have been an easier watch.
The in-form Gailo Chop (FR) simply galloped the opposition into the ground.
Mark Zahra elected to take a sit on Gailo Chop as Classic Uniform cut out the early sectionals but he set the French import to an all-out drive before the turn as Kathy O'Hara made her move on Single Gaze.
But the OTI Racing colour-bearer was keeping up a relentless gallop and he dropped off the game Single Gaze who was in her own battle for second spot with Prized Icon.
In career best form, Gailo Chop (FR) defeated Single Gaze by three lengths with Prized Icon a short-neck back in third. (photos Steve Hart).
"He's been a great horse for me and he thoroughly deserved that", Zahra said.
"I was happy to have a bit of a bunny to follow today, to get off the rail a little bit.
"Terry Henderson (part owner) has been crowing about the wet track and he was spot on.
"She (Single Gaze) came at me early but he can sustain a bit of a run this bloke and when I gave him one around the tail he really extended.
"Darren's flying and I'm happy to be part of it."
Gailo Chop (FR) made his 2018 debut in the Group III TS Carlon Cup at Caulfield in February which he duly won from Harlem.
He was back in the winners stall a fortnight later when defeating Single Gaze in the Group III Peter Young Stakes before going down to Harlem in the Group 1 Australia Cup at Flemington at his most recent start.
Stable representative Jarrod McLean said Gailo Chop was likely to back up in seven days time in the $1.5 million Tancred Stakes.
"Obviously a huge thrill today to collect Weiry's (Darren Weir) first Group 1 in Sydney with one of our stable favourites," McLean said.
"He's an incredible horse. He's just so hard to beat over 2000m."
"I think we've got to have a crack (in the Tancred). We're up here now and there's no Jameka about this year anyway so we'd be happy to push that way with him.
"I think he'll run the trip and should be no worries at all on the quick back up."
"It's a big thrill here today to win another Group 1 race on the back of Hellbent's Group 1 win (in the William Reid Stakes) last night."
It was the third Group 1 win for the 7yo gelding who won the $1 million Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington in 2015 when trained by Frenchman Antoine De Watrigant, as well as the Caulfield Stakes last October.
His overall record stands at 13 wins, 3 seconds and 3 thirds from 27 starts with earnings of $3,293,898.
As a three-year-old, Gailo Chop (FR) won four of his five starts including the Listed Prix Maurice Caillault over 2000m at Saint-Cloud, Group III Prix La Force over 2000m at Longchamp, Group III Prix Noailles over 2100m at Longchamp, and Group II Prix Guillaume over 2000m at Deauville.
Second to the star Solow in the Group 1 Prix D'Ispahan over 1800m at Longchamp with Cirrus Des Aigles behind, Gailo Chop (FR) came to Australia off the back of a win in the Group III Le Coupe De Maisons-Laffitte on September 18.
Bred and previously raced by Alain Chopard, the 5yo gelding is a son the Juddmonte homebred Deportivo who was a pure sprinter winning the Balmoral Handicap (1000m) at Royal Ascot at two and Group II Flying Five (1000m) at The Curragh at three.
Deportivo is a son of the Northern Dancer stallion Night Shift a former shuttler to Woodlands Stud.
Gailo Chop is the best of four winners for his dam Grenoble whose 31 start career yielded just one win.
She is a daughter of Blushing Groom's French Derby runner-up Marignan.
