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Chicago Bull cruises away with Navy Cup

Headshot of Ernie Manning
Ernie ManningThe West Australian
Reinsman Gary Hall Jr calmly guides Chicago Bull to a convincing victory in the Navy Cup.
Camera IconReinsman Gary Hall Jr calmly guides Chicago Bull to a convincing victory in the Navy Cup. Credit: Scott Hamilton/Hamilton Content Creators

Trainer Gary Hall issued a daunting warning to rivals after Chicago Bull brilliantly won the $50,000 Navy Cup (2130m) at Gloucester Park tonight.

Hall declared it was the star’s best win in two years, as he heads to the $300,000 Fremantle Pacing Cup and $450,000 WA Pacing Cup.

Chicago Bull, starting a $1.30 favourite, rated 1:53.7 and notched his 50th Perth victory when unextended to score by 10m.

Bletchley Park ($21.50) ran second and My Carbon Copy ($31.80) finished third, more than 13m behind the winner.

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“He hasn’t raced this well since winning at Auckland in October 2018,” Hall said. “I’ve no doubt he’ll be hard to beat in our carnival cups.”

The Fremantle Pacing Cup on November 20 and the WA Pacing Cup on December 4 will highlight Gloucester Park’s carnival.

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Chicago Bull sustained neck injuries when falling in a stable mishap only hours after the Auckland win and he needed a long spell.

“It’s taken time since the accident for him to regain top form,” Hall said. “But he’s finally back to his peak.

“Leading up to the carnival cups, I’ll keep him racing regularly in races that suit him.”

The victory was a tonic for Hall, who monitored the race from a Perth hospital where he had surgery this week on a long-term neck problem.

“I’m supposed to be away from the track for between four and six weeks, but I should be back sooner,” he said. “I know how Chicago Bull felt after his neck injury.”

Hall’s reinsman son Gary positioned Chicago Bull outside pacemaker Galactic Star from soon after the start and allowed him to relax before sprinting clear at the 400m.

The victory delivered Chicago Bull’s half century milestone of Gloucester Park wins. He has also run 10 second places and seven third places from 69 starts at the track. His overall career tally is 55 wins from 84 races.

Chicago Bull’s four-year-old stablemate Eloquent Mach also impressed when he started at $3.30 and won the Westral Pace (2536m) by more than 4m with a 1:57.6 rate.

Carter Micheal ($47.20) finished second and Jimmy Mack ($16.30) ran third, more than 6m behind the winner.

“Eloquent Mach will be a Fremantle Cup and WA Pacing Cup entrant, too,” Hall Sr said. “He has the potential to be a topliner.”

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