23 November 2020 | Ken Casellas
Chicago Bull is simply the best
Just over two years ago Chicago Bull cheated death in a freak stable accident in New Zealand, and at Gloucester Park on Friday night the superstar seven-year-old reinforced his standing as Australia’s best pacer with an incredible victory in the $300,000 Retravision Fremantle Cup.
It was a notable triumph for the chunky little gelding as well as for champion trainer Gary Hall snr and reinsman Gary Hall jnr, who can lay claim as the country’s finest driver.
Chicago Bull, presented in outstanding condition by Hall snr and driven in masterly fashion by his son, was favourite at $1.80 and he thrilled an excitable crowd with his sheer brilliance as he stormed to an effortless victory, beating $23 chance Galactic Star by just under two lengths, with up-and-coming star Shockwave ($2.65) a gallant third.
“Chicago Bull was on the floor and we all thought he was taking his last breath,” said Hall jnr as he recalled the devastating moments after the gelding suffered an anaphylactic reaction to an intravenous injection in Auckland in October 2018 and fractured eight bones in his wither region.
“I got a bit emotional in the cool-down lap tonight because memories came flooding back about what happened in New Zealand. To go from there to here, there’s so many people to thank. The horse has a heart bigger than himself and he’s an absolute marvel.
“I think he is now as good as he was then, if not better, and it’s all credit to Dad, who has done a super job to get him back to this form. Hopefully, we will be able to take him away again (with the Hunter Cup in Melbourne next year the likely target).”
Hall snr was ecstatic after Friday night’s magnificent performance, saying: “He’s unbelievable; he won so easily tonight, and I’m happy for Junior because he was nervous , and it was devastating for him to be over there in New Zealand when he was caretaking him. The accident wasn’t his fault.
“This makes up for it now. Chicago Bull is running to the line better and is running away from them (his rivals). Before, he used to wait for them, but tonight it was amazing the way he went to the line.
“I’ve won a few Fremantle Cups and I’m surprised at how overwhelmed I am the way Chicago Bull went tonight. He never ceases to surprise me. He’s the smallest horse I’ve trained, and he’s got a heart like a lion.”
Friday night’s victory gave Hall a record tenth win in the Fremantle Cup, and his fifth success in the past six years. It was Hall junior’s ninth win in the big race.
Vampiro ($31), from barrier four, was the smartest to begin, but the polemarker Bletchley Park set the pace for the first 300m before Colin Brown sent Vampiro to the front soon after Vampiro had locked sulky wheels with stablemate Mighty Conqueror, causing that pacer to break into a fierce gallop and drop back to the rear.
Shockwave settled down in sixth position in the one-out, one-back trail, before Aiden de Campo urged him forward, three wide, 600m after the start, with Chicago Bull in ninth place in the one-wide line.
Shockwave moved to the breeze, and after a lap of the 2536m journey had been completed, Hall sent Chicago Bull forward, three wide. The champion raced three wide for about 500m before he wrested the breeze position from Shockwave.
Chicago Bull forged to the front approaching the home turn before he burst away to leave his rivals floundering in his wake. He rated 1.56.9 after a final quarter of 28.3sec. Galactic Star, who had raced in the breeze briefly in the early stages and was sixth in the one-wide line at the bell, finished powerfully to be second, with Shockwave in third place ahead of Bletchley Park. Vampiro wilted to finish sixth.
Chicago Bull, who improved his record to 89 starts for 60 wins, 14 seconds, nine thirds and stakes of $2,228,843, will now tackle the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup next Friday week.
Balcatherine does it tough
Four-year-old New Zealand-bred pacer Balcatherine warmed up in fine style for the $125,000 Westral Mares Classic next Friday night with a powerful performance in the 2130m Retravision, Your Fujitsu Air Conditioning Specialist Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The victory was a just reward for the aggression shown by champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr, who set Balcatherine the daunting task of pouring on the pressure on the pacemaker and $1.95 favourite Somebeachparty throughout the race.
Somebeachparty was smartest into stride from barrier four, and Hall wasted no time from out wide at barrier eight to ensure that Somebeachparty, driven by Emily Suvaljko for Busselton trainer Barry Howlett, was able to have an easy time in front.
With Balcatherine challenging Somebeachparty for ascendancy in the early stages, the lead time was a fast 36.8sec. before the four quarters of the final mile whizzed by in 29sec., 28.9sec., 27.9sec. and 28.7sec., with the mile rate a slick 1.54.3.
The two mares were locked together in a titanic struggle over the final 400m before Balcatherine drew clear in the closing stages to win by a head. Angel In White, a $13 chance who trailed the pacemaker all the way, finished a sound third.
Hall was well aware of Somebeachparty’s ability, having driven her three times for three wins.
“I know she is pretty classy, and I knew that I had to put it to her,” said Hall. “Balcatherine is tough and I was pleasantly surprised the way she performed after doing all that work in the breeze.”
This was Balcatherine’s third start after resuming from a spell and she now has had 16 starts for eight wins, four placings and $95,638 in prizemoney. The win completed a treble for Hall and a double for trainer Gary Hall snr.
Eldaytona is a Derby hope
Smart Somebeachsomewhere colt Eldaytona emerged as a formidable player in the rich WA Derby next year when he gave a stylish frontrunning display to score an emphatic victory in the 2130m Retravision, 60 Day Price Promise Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Trained by Sue Wiscombe and driven confidently by Lindsay Harper, Eldaytona, third favourite at $5.50, had his rivals under pressure a long way from home when he sped over the second and third quarters of the final mile in 28.6sec. and 27.2sec.
He covered the final 400m section in 29.2sec. and defeated the $3.30 favourite Lavra Joe by two lengths, rating 1.56.7. Robbie Rocket ($12) rattled home from seventh at the bell to be an eye-catching third, with Sugar Street ($8) fighting on to be a sound fourth after working hard in the breeze.
Lavra Joe, a winner at his four appearances after resuming from a spell, was not bustled out from the outside barrier (No. 9) and settled down in tenth position. Chris Lewis sent him forward, three wide, approaching the bell and he sustained a spirited run.
Eldaytona, named after Daytona Beach in Florida, is raced by Wiscome, Harper and the colt’s breeders Kevin and Annette Charles.
“He keeps improving and has gone to a new level at each of his past four or five runs,” Harper said. “He’s not just a frontrunner, and I’m sure he can do it from behind.”
Charles entered the colt in the 2019 Perth APG yearling sale and Wiscombe and Harper outlaid $15,000 to obtain a 75 per cent share, with Charles and his wife retaining a 25 per cent ownership.
Eldaytona, the seventh foal and sixth winner out of Artsplace mare Hearty Franco, has now raced 13 times for three wins, seven seconds and $28,832 in stakes. He is a half-brother to Lady Luca, who won the group 1 Diamond Classic at Gloucester Park in 2016 and was retired with earnings of $134,568 from nine wins and eight placings from 65 starts.
Lady Luca has just produced her first foal, by Captain Treacherous. Lady Luca and Eldaytona’s maternal granddam Heather Franco produced Franco Hat Trick (191 starts for 30 wins, 66 placings and $659,210) and Franco Heir (83 starts for 19 wins, 16 placings and $392,272).
Braeview Bondi enhances Cup prospects
Braeview Bondi, a big, strong five-year-old enhanced his claims for a start in the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup next Friday week when he gave a splendid frontrunning performance to win the 2130m Pride Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Trained by Michael Brennan and driven by Michael Grantham, Braeview Bondi, favourite at $1.55, dashed over the final 8900m in 55.2sec. and won by a half-length from $8 chance American Brave, rating 1.56.1.
American Brave, prepared by Gary Hall snr, impressed at his first appearance for eight months when he was sixth at the bell before charging home with a spirited late burst.
“I reckon he is definitely in the top 12 to contest the Pacing Cup,” said Grantham. “I was impressed when he went 27.3sec. down the back. He’s versatile; he can come from behind and also can do it tough.”
The Victorian-bred Braeview Bondi has had 28 starts in Western Australia for eight wins and nine placings, and his career record stands at 75 starts for 17 wins, 24 placings and $192,201.
To Fast To Serious sparkles
West Australian-bred four-year-old To Fast To Serious continues his rise towards the top and reinsman Aldo Cortopassi confidently predicts he will be a star of the future.
To Fast To Serious, prepared at Mt Helena by Ray Williams, was not extended in setting the pace and winning the 2536m RAC Members Save 5% Everyday at Retravision Pace by three lengths from Gran Chico and Sangue Reale at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He is untapped,” said Cortopassi. “I’d love to see him sitting on the good horses before reeling off one quarter at them. He’s explosive and if he gets a chance in the big races, they’ll know he’s there.
“His forte is his sit-sprint ability. He has that one devastating turn of foot. But when you get a barrier (like No. 1 tonight), you take advantage of it.”
To Fast To Serious dashed over the first three quarters of the final mile in 29.4sec., 29.2sec. and 29.2sec. before sprinting over the final 400m in 27.9sec. to win at a 1.57.7 rate.
To Fast To Serious is still comparatively inexperienced, with his 19 starts producing 13 wins and three seconds for stakes of $143,223.
First double for Wiscombe
Former equestrian rider and trackwork jockey Sue Wiscombe notched her first training double in the sport of harness racing when Lindsay Harper brought outsider Beach Skipper home through a needle-eye inside opening to snatch a nose victory over the $1.60 favourite Headline Act in the 2130m Retravision, For All The Electrical Stuff You Love Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Beach Skipper, a $46.90 chance on the tote, started from the inside of the back line and trailed the pacemaking Headline Act throughout before Harper was able to squeeze the six-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding along the pegs to gain a last-stride verdict.
Wiscombe and Harper had combined to win with Eldaytona earlier in the night. Wiscombe, in her first full season as a trainer of pacers, has enjoyed good success, with her 131 starters producing 20 wins (16 at Gloucester Park and four at Pinjarra).
“I bought Beach Skipper for $20,000 from Melbourne in August last year and he has had issues with his feet and has been a little bit disappointing,” she said.
Beach Skipper had won at two of his nine New Zealand starts and had raced 52 times in Victoria for five wins and 19 placings. His 20 West Australian starts for Wiscombe have produced three wins and two placings for stakes of $26,982.
Suvaljko’s bargain buys
Byford trainer-reinsman Callan Suvaljkjo recently was looking to increasing the size of his team, and he has no regrets that he purchased experienced campaigners Extreme Prince and Tuas Delight.
He paid just $5000 each for eight-year-old Extreme Prince and seven-year-old Tuas Delight.
“I was looking for some town horses and I spoke to one of the owners of Tuas Delight,” he said. “I used to train some horses for him, and I mentioned to him that if Tuas Delight came up for lease or for sale, I would be interested.
“The next day Gary Hall snr phoned me and said I could come and pick up Tuas Delight and Extreme Prince. They’re quite handy horses.”
Extreme Prince was favourite at $1.90 at his third start for Suvaljko when he led all the way and won by a head from the Hall-trained Mister Bushido in the 2130m Retravision.com.au Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Extreme Prince also ran a third for Suvaljko, and at his three runs for his new trainer-reinsman he has earned $11,870. Tuas Delight has had five starts for Suvaljko for a dead-heat for first with Where Ya Bin and a second behind Caruba for stakes of $8126.
Suvaljko has given both Extreme Prince and Tuas Delight to his wife Mandy as Christmas presents. He has always been successful in identifying handy horses, and pacers Franco Novella and Earl of Locksley and trotter Nacokee have been wonderful bargains for him.
“I claimed Franco Novella for about $5000 in New Zealand and outlaid almost another $10,000 to get him to Perth,” he said. Franco Novella had 44 starts for Suvaljko, earning $113,985 from 20 wins and eight placings from 44 starts.
Earl of Locksley cost Suvaljko $15,000 before he went on to race 158 times for him, amassing $251,797 from 22 wins and 45 placings.
Talkerup surprises his driver
Veteran mare Talkerup went into the Retravision, Lowest Price Guarantee Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night an outsider at $32.50 from the back line and she surprised driver Emily Suvaljkjo when she raced in the breeze, took the lead 300m from home and won convincingly from the fast-finishing Whozideawasthis and the $1.55 favourite Liam Neil.
“It was a surprise to me, and I think she had plenty left on the line,” said Suvaljko.
The seven-year-old mare, owned and trained by Tony Svilicich, has been an iron horse and was having her 64TH start for the season on Friday night. She has raced 137 times for 13 wins, 29 placings and stakes of $176,054.
Another oldtimer, nine-year-old Whozideawasthis, was an $11 chance who showed that he should pay to follow by unwinding a spirited three and four-wide burst from last in the field of 12 at the bell to be second.
Fast start paves the way for Tiffany Rose
Three-year-old filly Tiffany Rose returned to her best form at her third appearance after a spell when she revealed sparkling gate speed from barrier eight before setting the pace and scoring an easy victory in the 2130m Retravision, 50 Months Interest Free Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Trained by Mike Reed and driven by his son Mark, Tiffany Rose was third favourite at $4.40 and she enjoyed a comfortable lead time of 38sec. and opening quarters of 30.2sec. and 29.8sec. before dashing over the final quarters in 28.6sec. and 29.1sec. to win by just under two lengths from $20 chance Miss Eerie.
The consistent Star Fromthepalace ($3.20) raced in the breeze and fought on gamely to finish third, with the $3 favourite Misstiano battling on to dead-heat for fourth place with Fifty Five Reborn.
The New Zealand-bred Tiffany Rose has been a handy performer, with her 26 starts producing nine wins and ten placings for earnings of $149,148.
Bar shoes help Disco Under Fire
The decision of owner-trainer Giles Inwood, in consultation with his farrier, to fit bar shoes on the front feet of Disco Under Fire is paying handsome dividends.
The WA-bred seven-year-old is no longer affected by foot soreness and he notched his second all-the-way victory in the space of five days when Gary Hall jnr drove him to a comfortable victory in the 2503m Retravision, We Love Our Customers Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Disco Under Fire, favourite at $1.70 after his easy win at Pinjarra on Monday afternoon, relishes standing-start events and he impressed in covering the final 800m in 57.2sec.
However, it was not all plain sailing, with Hall revealing that the gelding took a while to get his mind on the job.
“He had trouble in switching on and he also was distracted when he had a good look at a horse (Gonzos Shadow) who had been pulled up early in the race and was on the outside of the track,” Hall said.
Disco Under Fire has been an honest performer and has a record of 105 starts for ten wins and 42 placings for earnings of $95,466.
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