Daniel Stackhouse is looking to maintain an unbeaten record on Cool Chap when they both chase a first Group One win in the South Australian Derby.
Cool Chap heads to Adelaide for Saturday’s 2500m Classic for three-year-olds at Morphettville where he is expected to clash again with the Mick Kent-trained Charlevoix.
A stablemate to Saturday’s Australasian Oaks winner Abbey Marie, Charlevoix is the $3.80 Derby favourite ahead of Cool Chap at $6.
Charlevoix beat Cool Chap by 2-1/4 lengths in the Galilee Series Final last month at Sandown.
In Charlevoix’s absence Cool Chap then scored a convincing win in the Listed St Leger at Flemington on April 25.
Stackhouse has ridden Cool Chap twice for wins over 2000m at Caulfield three starts ago and the 2800m of the St Leger.
“You definitely know he’ll get the trip and he’s got the class to go against the good horses,” Stackhouse said.
Stackhouse’s best Group One results have been a second in the 2013 Australasian Oaks on the Peter Moody-trained Grand Daughter and a third on Golden Archer in the 2013 Lightning Stakes won by Black Caviar.
“Group Ones are always the hardest one to get, so it would be a big privilege to win it,” Stackhouse said.
Cool Chap can also give Hall of Fame trainer Lee Freedman and his brother Anthony a first Group One win since they formed a partnership in November 2014.
The stable also has Malaguerra in Saturday’s Group One BTC Cup in Brisbane.
“I’ll run Malaguerra but I’ll make my mind up about the Stradbroke after that,” Lee Freedman said.
Freedman said Cool Chap, who joined the stable from Peter Moody three starts ago, had trained on well.
“I think he’s a great chance if he draws well. He’s a genuine horse and he stays well,” Freedman said.
“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.
“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.”
