Champion reinsman Gary Hall Jnr is poised to become the most successful driver in the history of the August Cup by guiding superstar pacer Chicago Bull to victory in the 2536m feature event at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He has won the August Cup with Im Themightyquinn (2010), Uppy Son (2013), Northview Punter (2014) and Chicago Bull (2018) and is one of five reinsmen to have won the event four times, the others being Phil Coulson, Lyle Lindau, Fred Kersley Jnr and Lindsay Harper.
Without being disrespectful to the other seven runners in the race, Hall said he was extremely confident that Chicago Bull would take advantage of the No. 1 barrier by leading and proving too strong for his rivals.
“I’ll be planning to lead, and I don’t expect any of his opponents to be able to cross Chicago Bull,” he said.
Chicago Bull, prepared by Hall of Fame trainer Gary Hall Snr, is in outstanding form and has won in fine style at each of his past five outings to take his record to 53 wins from 81 starts. He began from the outside in a field of six in a 2130m event last Friday night and was not bustled early before taking the lead 650m after the start. He was not extended in winning at a 1.55.5 rate from Convert Denario and Bletchley Park.
“He’s always a bit lazy in front,” said Hall Jnr. “He tends to shut off a bit, so I gave him a few reminders close to the line last week.”
Hall snr already holds the training record for the August Cup, which was first run in 1950 when Doug Booth drove Lily Girl to victory at a 2.18 rate. He has won the Cup seven times with Zakara (1991-92-93-94), Im Themightyquinn, Northview Punter and Chicago Bull.
Leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond are hoping to replicate their performance in last year’s August Cup when one of their runners, Vampiro, a $10 chance, upset the $1.95 favourite Our Corelli by racing in the breeze and getting up to win by a half-head.
They are pinning their hopes on Galactic Star, a winner of 26 races and $529,722, who will be having his first start for four months. Galactic Star will begin from the No. 4 barrier with leading reinsman Ryan Warwick in the sulky.
Handsandwheels, trained and driven by Aiden de Campo, has finished fifth, second and fourth behind Chicago Bull at his three starts after a spell. He will start from the No. 3 barrier, but though blessed with excellent gate speed, he is unlikely to be able to cross Chicago Bull in the early stages.
The Stephen Reed-trained Bletchley Park is in excellent form and, from barrier two, Dylan Egerton-Green should be able to slot in behind the pacemaker Chicago Bull and fight out the minor placings with Handsandwheels, Galactic Star and Convert Denario.
