16 July 2020 | Ken Casellas
Handsandwheels, the 2017 WA Derby winner, faces a moment of truth when he clashes with superstar Chicago Bull in the Garrard’s Horse And Hound Pace over 2536m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Capel trainer-reinsman Aiden de Campo said that the six-year-old stallion was close to his top and that he was looking forward to the serious challenge against Chicago Bull.
Handsandwheels is favourably drawn at the No. 2 barrier, with Chicago Bull out wide at barrier seven.
“Last Friday night was the first time Handsandwheels had met Chicago Bull in a race,” said de Campo. “And I was happy with my horse’s first-up run. They went slow and came home real quick (with final quarters of 27.4sec. and 27.1sec.).
Chicago Bull, who led from barrier seven and was untroubled to win from Im Soxy and Chiaroscuro. Handsandwheels was restrained from barrier five and ran home solidly from sixth (one-out and two-back) at the bell to be fifth, four lengths behind Chicago Bull.
“He seemed to have pulled up well and he worked well this morning (Tuesday),” de Campo said. “He’s got the barrier to lead, and that’s his favourite spot. Definitely, I think he’s forward enough to hold out Chicago Bull.”
Handsandwheels certainly has the credentials to extend, if not beat, Chicago Bull. He has two Group one victories to his credit as well as six Group 2 successes. He has earned $658,278 from 28 wins and 23 placings from 79 starts. Chicago Bull has amassed $1,832,036 from his 49 wins and 22 placings from 77 starts.
Star reinsman Gary Hall Jnr is in no mood to concede the race to Handsandwheels, saying: “The 2500m will help us a little bit. Handsandwheels went all right last week, and he’s always better when he’s on the speed. You would imagine he’ll improve on his first-up run.
“If we are ever going to beat Handsandwheels when he’s leading, this would have to be the week. If we don’t beat him this week, we probably won’t beat him, ever.”
Chicago Bull’s five-year-old stablemate Ideal Liner, a winner at 13 of his 26 starts, will resume after a four and a half months absence when he will start from the No. 3 barrier with Stuart McDonald in the sulky.
“I don’t think Ideal Liner hit top gear last time (at his previous preparation) and he’s come back better, it seems,” said Hall. “He might have needed the experience at top level under his belt and I expect him to be thereabouts this week.”
Vultan Tin, who led and won from Chicago Bull in a 2536m event two starts ago, faces a tough task from the outside barrier the field of eight. “I’ll drive him soft,” said his reinsman Chris Voak.
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