23 November 2020 | Tim Walker
Dominant Retravision-Fremantle Cup (2536m) winner Chicago Bull is expected to be a surprise runner in this Friday’s RWWA Cup (2130m), just one week out from the TABtouch-WA Pacing Cup (2936m).
The Gary Hall Snr-trained pacer was a class above his rivals in Friday’s $300,000 feature and produced, arguably, a career best performance sitting outside Vampiro and rating 1.56.9 in the process.
Reinsman Gary Hall Jnr said the gelding came through the win in good order and indicated one more run this week would be the perfect lead in to the $450,000 Pacing Cup a week later.
“Senior is toying with the idea of running Bully this Friday,” he told TABradio.
“He’s only going to have to send him around at home and give him the hit out.
“He’s tossing up whether or not to just run him as a lead up to the Cup anyway.
“Given the way he came through the run and the ease in which he did it, there’s a chance he could be down there.”
Chicago Bull’s presence would be a major blow to those looking to use this week’s $50,000 feature as a way to force their way into the WA Pacing Cup field, with the winner of the race likely to secure a start in the state’s premier event.
PART ONE: @GaryHallJnr caught up with the team just before the last race @GloucesterPark to reflect on Chicago Bull’s memorable Fremantle Cup win last night.#WAHarness pic.twitter.com/ytGou0B46T
— RWWA Harness (@RWWA_Harness) November 21, 2020
Stroke Of Luck, To Fast To Serious, Braeview Bondi and The Bird Dance are among those that could look to use the RWWA Cup as a last chance opportunity to secure a Pacing Cup start.
Shockwave is the only confirmed runner from the 12 from last Friday night that will miss Friday week’s Group 1 feature.
Hall Jnr will get another look at Group 1 success this Friday night, when he teams up with Balcatherine in the Westral-Mares Classic (2536m).
The American Ideal mare started from barrier eight and produced one of her best performances to sit in the breeze and beat Somebeachparty in 1.54.3.
The Hall Of Fame driver said he was confident Balcatherine was one of the standout chances for the $125,000 feature following the tough performance on Friday.
“She was pretty special, I know dad couldn’t believe it,” he said.
“We needed to know what sort of options we had if we happened to draw badly in the Mares Classic.
“I really wanted to test her out and see what she could do.
“It’s one of those ones where you always thought they could do it, but it’s nice to actually see them do it.”
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