By Adam Hamilton
GARY Hall Jr will be more than just driver for Chicago Bull during his upcoming NZ Cup raid.
Following the successful 2011 Auckland Inter Dominion model with Im Themightyquinn, Hall Jr will be caretaker trainer of Chicago Bull as well.
“Gaz put his hand-up, he said he did everything right with Quinny, and we’ve got a big team here, so it makes sense for him to go across and I’ll stay here until those last couple of days leading into the Cup itself,” trainer Gary Hall Sr said.
Chicago Bull posted his eighth win on end and his 11th from his past 12 starts in the $50,000 Group 2 JP Stratton Cup (2130m) on Friday night.
It came in cosy fashion, but after 250m of fireworks soon after the start when Hall Jr had to “light-up” his superstar to get the lead from a headstrong Talktomeurmattjesty.
Once in front Chicago Bull settled again, cruised through a 59.7sec middle half then zipped home in 55.3 and 27.8sec to win by eight metres in a 1min55sec mile rate.
“He won without the plugs being pulled, but it was a good enough hitout eight days ahead of the Victoria Cup,” part-owner Glen Moore said.
“We think we’ve timed his preparation well. He’s still got improvement to come, his coat is still coming through.”
Moore also had a shared in Im Themightyquinn and was asked to compare the two.
“Quinny did it all and travelled everywhere to do it, so it’s to compare them yet, but this fella is relaxed and we think he’ll handle the travel well, but it’s the next step for sure,” he said.
Chicago Bull will be favourite regardless of draws in next Saturday night’s Group 1 Victoria Cup at Melton then flies out to Auckland five days later ahead of an Alexandra Park race on October 26.
Team Hall finished with a treble on Friday night, the other notable win coming with emerging star King Of Swing, who dropped back from a recent narrow free-for-all defeat to win as he liked in restricted grade.
The four-year-old worked his way to the front and sprinted home in 56.1 and 27.4sec to win in a 1min56.2sec mile rate for 2130m.
It won’t be long before he’s back in free-for-alls, especially with Chicago Bull leaving WA for possibly as long as the next 10 weeks.
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THE rise and rise of Wrappers Delight continues.
And next stop is next week’s Group 1 Victoria Cup after leading throughout to win the Group 2 Smoken Up Sprint in fighting fashion at Melton last night.
But the question still remains whether young gun Kima Frenning will drive Wrappers Delight or Im the Boss, the horse she partnered to easily win the Group 2 Kilmore Cup a week earlier.
Wrappers Delight has been a revelation since being switched to David Aiken’s stable after a stint in WA, most recently winning the Breeders Crown 4YO final and now Smoken Up Sprint.
Last night he used gate three to lead, copped some midrace attention from a headstrong Im The Smoocha, while main dangers Ameretto said behind him and Shadow Sax in the one-one trail.
But Wrappers Delight packed too much speed closing splits of 54.7 and 26.7sec to hold-off Shadow Sax by a head in a 1min52.5sex mile rate for 1720m. Ameretto was a close third.
Both Shadow Sax and Ameretto were both very good runs first-up, especially Shadow Sax after coming three-wide for the last 400m in such quick closing splits.
No doubt Chicago Bull is the horse to beat in this Victoria Cup, but the barrier draw will be crucial.
The race has opened-up a lot more given the runs of Wrappers Delight and Shadow Sax at Melton as well as Majordan and Tiger Tara at Menangle last night.
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QUEENSLAND’S NZ Cup hopeful Alleluia can’t find a lead-up race.
Well at least, he can’t find one that actually get runs.
Grant Dixon has had the classy pacer down to run at Albion Park for the past two Saturday nights, but the meetings have been washed-out both times.
Thankfully time is still on his side with the Cup still more than five weeks away.
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TEAM Tritton’s impressive strike rate with former Victorian pacers added another couple of chapters with the wins of Maximan and Jedi Mind at Menangle last night.
Both posted their first wins since joining Shane and Lauren Tritton’s stable since leaving strong Victorian stables.
In the case of former topliner Maximan, the “drop back in class” Menangle handicapping system made him a suitable horse to claim from Victoria.
And he made the most of one of the weakest races he’s been in for a long time but thrashing his rivals in a sparkling 1min51.4sec mile.
It was the now 10-year-old’s 22nd win from 87 starts and took his earnings close to $300,000.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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