New Driver for Defending Cup Champ

Mach Dan - Garrards Pace. Photo by Stuart McCormick.

PREMIER driver Kate Gath has landed the drive on defending champion Mach Dan in Saturday night’s $50,000 Geelong Cup.

It will be Gath’s first drive on the multiple Group 1 winner in his 65-start career and came about with regular driver Mark Pitt heading to the big Menangle meeting on the same night.

Pitt, who finished a luckless sixth aboard Mach Dan in last Saturday night’s epic Victoria Cup, will partner Emma Stewart-trained pair Oliver Dan and Major Delight in their respective semi-finals of the NSW Breeders Challenge series at Menangle.

It stretched Stewart’s driving options with three Geelong Cup runners. 

Young gun James Herbertson will partner Beyond Delight with Damian Wilson aboard Major Moth.

Gath made the call to jump off her own stable’s Cup runner, the on-form Outlaw Man (gate six, $11), to drive a $4.50 shot Mach Dan from a better draw (gate four). Champion freelancer Chris Alford will drive Outlaw Man.
Mach Dan, winner of the past two Newcastle Miles, was driven by Pitt when he led throughout to win last year’s Geelong Cup. He’s been back to the track once since, for an impressive Inter Dominion heat last December.

Gath will be looking to use his renowned gate speed to try and cross hot favourite Rock N Roll Doo (gate three, $1.75) at the start.

Rock N Roll Doo, who worked to the lead and ran a close fourth in last week’s Victoria Cup, joins Mach Dan and evergreen veteran Bulletproof Boy (gate seven, $34) as the three runners backing up from last week’s Group 1 feature.

Mach Dan is raced by high-profile Geelong-based owners Danny and Jo Zavitsanos, who are still on a high after winning last Saturday night’s Group 1 Victoria Derby with Petracca.

“That was really special last week, but one of the biggest thrills we’ve had was Mach Dan’s win in our local Cup last year,” Danny Zavitsanos said.

“We’re really passionate about supporting the Geelong Cup, and we’d love to win the Cup again.

“He hasn’t got quite as good a draw as he had last year, but he’s been going really well without much luck.”

The Cup is part of another big weekend for Stewart, who dominated Victoria Cup night by winning the Derby and Oaks as well.

She has four runners across the heats of three major SA races at Globe Derby tomorrow (Friday) night, along with the two key runners at Menangle.

With the stretch on drivers, Stewart has booked Gaita Pullicino to partner with her three Globe Derby hopefuls.