Darren Weir’s beaten Australian Cup favourite Gailo Chop is tipped to return to winning form and turn the tables on his shock last start conqueror sitting odds-on in the Ranvet Stakes 2018 field and betting markets for Saturday.
Gailo Chop is odds-on favourite in 2018 Ranvet Stakes betting this Golden Slipper Day in Sydney. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Last time out on Super Saturday at Flemington, the talented French imported seven-year-old Gailo Chop was a half-length beaten by Lindsay Park’s roughie hope Harlem in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m).
That followed back-to-back Caulfield wins the month before and is an effort the bookies are willing to forgive and forget as Gailo Chop heads to Sydney on Golden Slipper Day this weekend.
Over his pet distance again (12:6-1-0), the gelding dominates a small but classy nine-horse field for the Group 1 $700,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens.
Drawn barrier four with Mark Zahra retaining the ride, all the money is on Gailo Chop to bounce back in his Sydney debut especially with a predicted rain-affected track.
The latest Ranvet Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have the favourite at a short $1.90 to salute being undefeated on Heavy going (3:3-0-0).
Four of the past six Ranvet Stakes winners all had their final lead-up in a Flemington race, which bodes well for Gailo Chop and the other Australian Cup graduates.
The two horses that finished first and third in the Australian Cup results are also accepted to back-up in the Ranvet Stakes rematch with stablemates Harlem and Ventura Storm drawn in barriers six and nine respectively.
Champs Elysees six-year-old Harlem chases the Australian Cup – Ranvet double for the first time since Manighar (2012) and is quoted at a generous $11 to do so in another upset.
The fellow Lindsay Park-trained Ventura Storm ($13) meanwhile has Damien Oliver riding this weekend as the Zoffany five-year-old chases his first win in Australia.
Better fancied in Ranvet Stakes betting are the two other single-figure hopes along with the favourite, Single Gaze ($6) and The Taj Mahal ($9.50).
Nick Olive’s Caulfield Cup second placed mare from last spring, Not A Single Doubt five-year-old Single Gaze is out to beat the boys in the Ranvet Stakes results for the first time since Silent Achiever (2014).
She’s got form on wet tracks and is a dual Rosehill winner, but hasn’t won anything since June last year in Brisbane.
With conditions to suit and the inside barrier one draw, Single Gaze shapes-up as a livewire chance.
The Taj Mahal meanwhile represents goliath owner Lloyd Williams, the Liam Howley-trained import out to atone for his first-up eighth in the Australian Cup when still under three lengths beaten.
Fitter for the run, the former French gallop gets his first look at Sydney and Ben Melham retains the ride having been aboard for the horse’s three latest runs including the Group 2 Sandown Classic (2400m) win last November.
Check out the full Ranvet Stakes 2018 field and betting odds below, prices open now at Ladbrokes.com.au.
