The Australian race debut of French raider Gailo Chop has the Antoine de Watrigant-trained galloper spot on for a telling run in Saturday’s 2015 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington Racecourse.

French visitor Gailo Chop is out to improve on a Cox Plate eighth in this weekend’s Mackinnon Stakes 2015 at Flemington. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Racing Victoria’s international talent scout Leigh Jordon reported this week the Deportivo five-year-old took great benefit from his run behind superstar mare Winx in the $3 million Group 1 W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley.

A winner of seven of his 13 starts to date with winning form up to 2100m, Gailo Chop enjoyed a Group 3 win at home in late September before making the trip down under after being one of the international Cox Plate invitees for the MVRC.

He and jockey Brad Rawiller could only manage to run 12 and a half lengths away eighth behind Chris Waller’s record breaking winner Winx in the weight-for-age classic, but the horse pulled up post-Cox Plate in good order.

“Gailo Chop has pulled up very well,” Jordon said.

“He looks great, he took benefit from the run.”

Gailo Chop is on a seven day turnaround into the $1 million Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) on Victoria Derby Day this weekend, one of four Group 1 features on the card that Ladbrokes.com.au are running Best Tote or SP + 20% markets on this Saturday.

Running as Flemington Race 6 at 3:05pm (AEST), this year’s edition of the Longines Mackinnon Stakes attracted an under capacity field of just 15.

Gailo Chop jumps from barrier five on the weekend, a gate that Alcopop won the Mackinnon Stakes from only two years ago.

As well as Gailo Chop, the international Cox Plate runner who was expected to accept for the Mackinnon Stakes this weekend was Arod.

Well fancied in Cox Plate betting, the Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained Teofilo stallion ran 11^th in his first defeat over the distance, but was a notable non-acceptor for a Mackinnon back-up.

Instead connections are likely saving the five-year-old Summer Mile winner for the $1 million Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m) over less distance on the last day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival on November 7.

“Arod was probably a bit free-running [in the Cox Plate], he did blow a fair bit after the run and I think also the camp believe maybe he’s more of a miler, so he’ll head on to the Emirates on the final day,” Jordon confirmed.

Mackinnon Stakes betting markets are a wide open affair led narrowly be the John O’Shea-trained The Metropolitan winner Magic Hurricane ($6 into $5.50) with the rails run from barrier one with Caulfield Cup winning jockey Opie Bosson in the saddle.

Gailo Chop is only rated an $18 chance in the current Mackinnon Stakes odds and is looking to become the first to win the weight-for-age clash at double figures since the Bart Cummings-trained Sirmione scored the upset at 60/1 in 2007.

The Cox Plate has produced six of the past 10 Mackinnon Stakes winners including Happy Trails last year who ran sixth in the lead-up before his win over Criterion at 6/1 odds 12 months ago.

Happy Trails returns this weekend looking for another win after a 10^th to Winx in the Cox Plate, the same position Glass Harmonium ran in the 2011 Cox Plate before taking out the Mackinnon next run.

Check out the full Mackinnon Stakes 2015 odds and betting offers online now at Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Best Tote or SP + 20% on all 9 Victoria Derby Day races this weekend!