By Adam Hamilton
CHICAGO Bull is Gary Hall Sr’s stable top seed, but rejuvenated veteran My Hard Copy isn’t far behind him.
And, if came down to emotional connections, My Hard Copy might even be on top.
The rising nine-year-old entire returned from a spell to beat a good field easily and post his 27th career win at Gloucester Park last Friday night.
My Hard Copy boasts more than $1.25 million in stakemoney, largely through his two Fremantle Cup wins (2015 and this year), two WA Cup wins (2015 and 2016) and even a third in a Hunter Cup.
“We love him. I hoped hew drew well first-up because his work at home had been so good. He’s come back better than even we think,” Hall Sr said.
My Hard Copy drew the pole, Gary Hall Jr used his early speed to lead easily and then kept-up a strong tempo to win without being extended by 3.9m over a gallant Galactic Star, who sat parked, with The Bucket List (behind leader) in third spot.
The mile rate was a strong 1min56.7sec, which considering the winter conditions, compared well with the track record 1min54.5sec set by Lazarus on night one of last year’s Perth Inter Dominion.
Interestingly, My Hard Copy has beaten home Chicago Bull at two of their past three clashes.
While Chicago Bull, who will likely race at Gloucester Park net Friday, will travel to the Victoria Cup in Melbourne then onto the NZ Cup, My Hard Copy is staying home.
“I’ll just take him through the free-for-alls here and get ready for another go at the Fremantle and WA Cups,” Hall Sr said.
X X X
SHADOW Sax has served his “apprenticeship” and now its time for the big league.
Emma Stewart’s exciting open-class player looms as one of the key contenders for races like the Victoria Cup and Melbourne Inter Dominion.
Stewart took Shadow Sax through a string of country cup wins this season, but dipped him into the elite company for a second to Soho Tribeca in the Kilmore Cup, a win over the same horse in the Melton Plate and a third in the Ballarat Cup.
He’s won 11 of 14 starts this season with the only flop, a mystifying one, being a 12th in the Hunter Cup.
Shadow Sax brilliantly won the Horsham Cup on April 22 then had a break before resuming with a no-fuss win in the Minuteman free-for-all at Melton last Friday night.
Chris Alford used gate three to lead, cruised through a cosy 47.1sec lead time, steady 61.8sec middle half, the zipped home in 55.8 and 26.9sec to score by 3.5m in a 1min58.3sec mile rate for 2240m.
Shadow Sax will back-up in next week’s Breeders Crown Open free-for-all then build towards the Victoria Cup on October 15.
X X X
GLAMOUR mare Our Golden Goddess earned a crack at Shadow Sax in the Breeders Crown Open free-for-all after winning the mares’ only version last night.
It was closer than punters hoped and expected, but Our Golden Goddess led, smashed the clock and just held-out reigning Ladyship Mile winner Carlas Pixel by a neck.
They went a slick 1min53.1sec mile rate for 1650m.
X X X
TEAM Tritton bring so many horses across from NZ, it takes something special to standout.
A few years back Shane Tritton spruiked a mare called Arms Of An Angel before she had her first run for him and we all know hood good she was before being cutdown by injury at her prime.
Tritton beamed similar confidence about a three-year-old Tintin In America gelding called Gods Spirit a before he stepped-out for his first run for the stable at Menangle last Tuesday.
Gods Spirit won his only start in NZ for trainer-driver Nicky Chilcott by just a neck at a Manawatu meeting back on December 14, last year.
“He went a 1min51sec mile at the (Menangle) trials and it was the first time he’d seen the mobile in seven months,” Tritton said. “He could be a freak.”
Gods Spirit ran right up to expectations and his trial when he won his first Aussie run by an increasing 26.3m at Menangle last Tuesday.
Despite a cosy 57.6sec first half, the gelding ripped home in staggering splits of 53.4 and 26.5sec for a 1min51sec mile, seemingly with Lauren Tritton just nursing him.
No three-year-old has gone faster in Australia this season.
X X X
VETERAN mare Lola Jones is becoming quite the giant-killer.
Kevin Pizzuto’s rising eight-year-old stormed home to upstage her more highly-fancied rivals in the Group 3 Baby Bling at Menangle last night.
The leaders went hard through a 55.3sec first half which set-up the overall 1min51.7sec mile.
The hardluck story of the race was classy former WA mare Major Reality, who had no racing room when it mattered at her first run for new trainer Craig Cross.
This email, and any attachments, is confidential and may be covered by legal professional privilege or other legal rules. If you are not the intended recipient you must not disclose or use the information contained in it. If you have received this email in error please notify us immediately by return email or by calling our main switchboard on +613 9868 2100 and delete the email.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
