Chicago Bull will take centre stage yet again at Gloucester Park tomorrow night, but it’s some of the lesser likes that has driver Gary Hall Jnr excited heading to the 10 race program.
Hall Jnr teams up with trainer Gary Hall Snr on four short price favourites, including Chicago Bull and WA Derby winner King Of Swing.
Tomorrow night’s Group 2 J.P Stratton Cup (2130m) will round out Chicago Bull’s preparations for the Victoria and New Zealand Cups over the next month.
Hall Jnr said getting the six-year-old through the run in one piece was his priority.
“First and foremost, we would like him to win,” he said.
“We wouldn’t like him to be beaten before Melbourne.
“We do hope him to get through the run.”
Hall Jnr said he would look to adopt similar tactics with Chicago Bull to what he has done in previous starts, hoping to slowly work his way to the front from barrier six.
Chicago Bull’s stablemate Runrunjimmydunn is expected to provide the most formidable opposition tomorrow night, but Hall Jnr said a lot would have to go right for him to beat Chicago Bull.
The first of Hall Jnr’s favourites on the night is five-year-old consistent gelding Overboard Again in the Glenroy Chaff Pace (2130m).
Overboard Again has barrier one for tomorrow night’s event and Hall Jnr said he was hopeful he would be able to lead all the way.
“He worked really well yesterday,” he said.
“There are a couple of fast beginners outside of him, but I’m confident.
“I think from the pole he will be able to hold the lead and be hard to beat.”
King Of Swing went down narrowly to Motu Premier in last Friday night’s Media Guild Cup and has the chance to bounce back in tomorrow night’s Yes Loans Pace (2130m) from barrier three.
Despite being beaten as a $1.50 chance last week, Hall Jnr said he was pleased with King Of Swing’s performance and expected him to get back on the winners list tomorrow night.
“After a lap last week I thought he was no hope,” he said.
“He pulled really hard and he hadn’t had the preparation we would’ve liked leading into that race.
“If that race was this week, I think he would win.”
Fellow four-year-old Speed Man was also as a short price favourite last week, but, similarly to King Of Swing, Hall Jnr said he expected a bold showing tomorrow night.
“Speed Man is in really good form,” he said.
“This looks like a drop in class for him and hopefully he will end up outside the leader at some stage.”
Tomorrow night’s Gloucester Park meeting gets underway at 5.20pm.
Tim Walker