Another Gloucester Park meeting, another easy win for the NZ Cup-bound Chicago Bull.
Gary Hall Sr’s five-year-old made it three cosy wins from as many starts this campaign when he led from the pole and was never out of second gear at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Chicago Bull zipped home in 26.8sec with driver Gary Hall Jr just sitting against him in a 1min56.8sec mile rate for 2130m.
It was a Hall Sr quinella with the emerging Runrunjimmydunn sitting behind Chicago Bull and running second, while the talented Galactic Star ran a brave third after parking outside the champ.
“He’ll have another a couple of runs, then a freshen-up before we lock-in travel plans. I’d like to go to the Victoria Cup on the way to NZ. The timing works if it fits the available flights,” Hall Sr said.
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BRENT Lilley’s new Kiwi import Stress Factor is the one to beat in next Sunday’s Group 1 Victoria Trotters’ Derby.
That was clear after the former All Stars’ trotter made an impressive Aussie winning debut for new trainer Brent Lilley.
Stress Factor showed great manners and gate speed with Chris Alford aboard to work forward and take the lead and went on to win by 2.3m in a 1min59.4sec for 2240m.
The eye-catching run was Anton Golino’s Majestic Player, who stormed home from midfield to finish second.
Highly-rated local Anywhere Hugo finished third, but would need to improve sharply to be a major player in the Derby.
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SHANE Tritton has no regrets about skipping the recent Queensland Carnival with his emerging star Gotta Go Ya Hu.
The four-year-old son of Big Jim made it two sparkling wins in a row at Menangle when he blasted home from last to win running away by 5.2m in a 1min51.3sec mile.
“We think he’s our next really top horse, but we made the decision to keep him back from the big races and let him learn,” Tritton said.
“Of course you look back at those Queensland races and wonder. I think he’s match it with anything racing right now, he’s got this amazing speed, but we will turn him loose next campaign.”
In contrast to most Tritton horses, Gotta Go Ya Hu excels when driven from back in the field, as shown by his past two wins.
Suited by the leaders blazing a 54.2sec first half, Gotta Go Ya Hu stormed around the field to win easily.
“You’ll note how we drive him and you’ll see more of our horses driven like that. While it’s worked to be aggressive and on the speed, we’re a bit sick of being the bunny for others,” Tritton said.
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MOST Kiwis know Our Golden Goddess has always had the potential to be one of the best mares in Australasia.
And now two sparkling wins this campaign have her firmly headed in that direction for trainer-driver Kerryn Manning.
The five-year-old Art Major mare toyed with her rivals last night at Melton, the highlight being a staggering 26.2sec closing quarter.
Manning had a big night after earlier leading throughout for an impressive but upset win aboard Tough Call in the Group 3 TAB Multiplier final, beating highly-rated Jilliby Bandit on his merits.
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ONE of the biggest stories of this year’s hugely successful Queensland Winter Carnival has been the massive interstate flavour.
Queenslanders are used to raiders snatching their major races, but this year trainers like Chris Frisby, Craig Cross and Kerry Ann Turner sent teams up from NSW and had a massive influence.
Of course the now NSW-based Tim Butt won the Blacks A Fake with Let It Ride and Amanda Turnbull also came from NSW to win the Sunshine Sprint with Tact Tate.
Even last night, NSW raiders won four of the 10 races and Luke McCarthy, who has enjoyed a stellar stint up north, drove three winners.
“It’s been a huge success story this Carnival,” Albion Park chief Damian Raedler said. “Betting figures have soared, the media coverage has been outstanding and there is a real buzz around.”
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ROBBIE Morris returned home from his successful three-week Queensland stint to reunite with fiancé Kerry Ann Turner and the pair dominated the Menangle meeting last night.
Turner trained four of the nine winners and in two of the races she also snared the quinella.
Turner drove Redbank Blaze to win, while Morris was aboard their other three winners: Cherry Stride, Dance For Glory and Fat Prophet.
“We had plenty of success in Queensland, but Kerryn Ann did a fantastic job back home and it’s great to back together and having the success we did last night,” Morris said.
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SAME dominance, different state for Emma Stewart.
Victoria’s top trainer snared yet another feature this season when Art Major colt Thats Perfect thrashed his rivals in the $50,000 Ubet Southern Cross final for three-year-old colts and geldings at Globe Derby last night.
Thats Perfect, driven by Sidney Van Den Brande, roared away to win by 26m in a 1min57.2sec mile rate for 2230m and led a Victorian dominance on the night.
Trainer Brett Bunfield, who has taken over most of the horses previously trained in Victoria by Nicole Molander, won the 3YO fillies’ final by 17m with Bettors Delight filly Saphirique.
And Nathan Jack trained the quinella in the 2YO colts and geldings final with Art Major colt Animal thrashing stablemate Young Rooster in a sparkling 1min56.5sec mile rate for 1800m.
Trainer Bronte Giorgio landed the only local win in the finals with Bubbles And Cheese beating another local, Shesashark, by a whisker in the 2YO fillies’ final.
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IT might not have been the result punters hoped for, but nobody could begrudge popular trainer-driver David Murphy his feature win with Valla Reine in the $50,000 Australian Gold Autumn 2YO Sale final.
The daughter of Cams Fool led and just staved-off a gallant Cautivar to win by a nose with heavily-backed favourite Jilliby Macarena having every chance after a superb Jason Lee drive in third spot.
Adam Hamilton