Chicago Bear shows his claws at Rangiora

Few if any maidens that have appeared at the Rangiora Harness Racing Club have ever had such inherent pressure to succeed like Chicago Bear (Bettor’s Delight), the full brother to 62 race-winning double millionaire Chicago Bull.

The Cran and Chrissie Dalgety trained pacer was one of the most expensive yearlings to ever go through a parade ring having been secured for $310,000 back in 2021 out of the vaunted Price Bloodstock Draft. On looks and pedigree, it’s not hard to see why.

For this fella was and still is a stunning individual, and with his two older brothers earning a tick under $3million between them including a litany of major stakes races across the Tasman, the recipe for further success was always on the cards.

And while it hasn’t eventuated as quickly or as profitably as envisaged by connections, the now four-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight took his first step on the journey by saluting the judge in just his second race day start when winning the third heat of the Anne Thompson Graduation Series yesterday afternoon (May 6^th).

“He is a stunner. He’s taken quite a long time to get here but his ability has never been the question,” said his pilot, Carter Dalgety talking to Harness Racing Unhinged’s Nigel Armstrong post-race.

“It’s just he’s had a few other things going on but it’s good he’s shown a bit of light at the end of the tunnel there.

“I don’t think anybody blamed us for buying him at the sales on looks, and he has a lot of good blood running through him and I think it will come out. Patience is a beautiful thing with horses and we’ve given him plenty of time and now he’s looking after us,” he said.

Taken back early from his second-line barrier, Dalgety hooked the blue-blooded gelding out of the running line as they entered the Rangiora straight the first time and found the top with a lap to go in the 2000m mobile event.

From there, the pair dictated terms and cruised home under little urging with a 57.6 last half leaving his rivals for dust and with few excuses, scoring by a comfortable two and three-quarter length margin of victory.

CHICAGO BEAR REPLAY

It was a performance that indicated there is a fair bit of bottom to Chicago Bear, and although he may never be the Bull his older brother was, imminent success in the short term is not out of the question before he hibernates for the winter.

“I believe he will be back here in two weeks for the final, it’s a great series with great meaning behind it so it is nice to have a nice on it,” said Dalgety.

For complete Rangiora results, click here.

by Brad Reid, for Harnesslink