Hall says Chicago Bull going to Cup

It is now just a matter of how and when Chicago Bull goes to the New Zealand Cup, not if.

The pint-sized superstar made it four wins from as many starts and is as many weeks when he snatched a head win at Gloucester Park last night (Friday).

It wasn’t his most impressive win, but it got a big tick from driver Gary Hall Jr.

“It was a wet track, a really heavy track. I could’ve worked to the lead if I’d wanted to, but I actually spoke with the stewards before the race about the going being quite heavy near the inside and him being a little horse, I’d be happier to sit one-off,” he said.

“It almost backfired on me, but he found a way to get the job done. I was trying to look after him, if that makes sense.”

A rejuvenated Devendra led and Hall Jr allowed him to dictate with a 63.4sec middle split of the 2536m before they roared home in 55.1 and 27.3sec.

Trainer Gary Hall Sr said he it was now all about keeping Chicago Bull “ticking along” until the Victoria and NZ Cups.

“He’s going to both, the timing works,” he said. “I might stretch his races out to once a fortnight until between now and when we go to Melbourne.

“Then, after Melbourne, we’ll get across to NZ as soon as we can to make sure we get a lead-up race in across there before the NZ Cup.”

Hall Sr is also excited about the return of his WA Derby winner King Of Swing, who has his first run since that Derby win in April when he tackles a C0 (maiden) at Gloucester Park on Monday.

“He’s underdone, but he’s so well graded over here we should grab these races between now and the end of the season (end of August),” he said.

“I’m really pleased how he’s come back and it’ll be exciting to get him into those big races towards the end of the year.”

Another winner of note at Gloucester Park last night was former top Kiwi filly Our Angel Of Harlem, who was impressive sitting parked and scoring easily in a 1min56sec mile rate for 2130m in the heavy conditions.

The Mach Three filly has four of her 11 starts for Mike Reed with another four placings.

Adam Hamilton