It is do or die so I'm banking on Chieftain ruling in Geelong Cup

Fancy seeing an Aussie racing rookie turn $100 into $1,000 during his stint at the Spring Carnival? Well, stay tuned.

I have never been to Australia before, never studied Australian form before and not sure of who or what to watch out for – yet the mission is most definitely possible. The toughest challenges are always the best ones.

Or so I was hoping. Lets call a spade a spade, it has been nothing short of disastrous to date. Six bets, six losers. $100 has quickly evaporated into $25. I am on the ropes and one more right hook from a wrong selection and I will be panned out on the canvas. Fight over.

That is what makes the Geelong Cup so crucial. It is do or die. Find the winner or bask in bankruptcy.

There is $25 remaining in the kitty and the option is there to spread small stakes across a number of different selections at Geelong. But, what makes more appeal is going 'all-in' on the main race of the day.

Qewy claimed glory in the Geelong Cup last year, but we are without a British or Irish raider this time around. Gannante, Fanatic, Vengeur Masque, Settler's Stone and Kawabata cannot win surely so that narrows the field down to seven.

It looks a substandard renewal of the Group 3 contest and, to these rather blurry eyes, Gallic Chieftain looks head and shoulders above his opponents and ought to be a lot shorter than the 5-2 which is currently available.

Darren Weir has his team in terrific form, fresh from a four-timer at Caulfield on Saturday, and this looks a shrewd piece of placing.

Gallic Chieftain was just 16-5 to land the Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield last Saturday week but Dean Yendall seemed keen to preserve his stamina and left him with far too much to do. He flew home for third, beaten only a length and a half by Lord Fandango, and was one spot ahead of last Saturday's Caulfield Cup winner, Boom Time.

Craig Williams takes over from Yendall this time and Gallic Chieftain has drawn stall two in what looks a weaker race. It all makes sense – $25 on the nose.

My Thousand Dollar Challenge could finally get off the ground. Better late than never.

Thousand Dollar Challenge bets

Gallic Chieftain
Geelong Cup, Wednesday
$25 win at 5-2

Balance: $0

Losers so far
Main Stage $25 win (third)
Johannes Vermeer $20 win (third)
Catchy $10 win (third)
Riven Light $10 win (seventh)
Aloft $10 win (ninth)

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