Soho Valencia will provide stiff opposition for Chancellor Cullen in Perth's 4YO features
City of Melton Plate winner Chancellor Cullen made one more step towards a western adventure at Tabcorp Park tonight but his major adversary across the Nullarbor may be a fellow Victorian raider.
Nursed through a soft standing start victory at Kilmore following the Melton Plate, Chancellor Cullen again took the path of least resistance at Melton, winning heat two of an M0 to M1 series in predictably comfortable fashion.
Quickly out from the mobile start, Dean Braun’s four-year-old son of Christian Cullen worked his way across Well Hello Dolly before dropping anchor to record a slowish lead time of 47.2 seconds.
Chris Alford stepped things up aboard the brilliant ex-Kiwi campaigner through a 29.8 second first quarter of the final mile before again jogging through a 31.2-second following term.
Chancellor Cullen was cruising upon entering the back straight for the final time but began to roll through a 28.8-second third section before rattling home in 27.6 to beat Well Hello Dolly by 5m with Because I Can a further 2.3m further astern in third.
His effortless victory in 1:58.5 was in stark contrast to that of former Victorian 4YO Soho Valencia who looked like a world beater in his first run for Gary Hall Snr in Perth.
Lining up in the Golden Nugget Prelude, Hall Snr’s new recruit pulled his way to the lead through a 57.2-second first half of the final mile before finishing off in 57 in a performance that almost beggared belief.
Chancellor Cullen and Soho Valencia will be joined by Im Victorious and Mr Nickel in Perth’s triumvirate of 4YO features which kick off with the TABtouch 4YO Championship on November 9 and also include the McInerney Classic and Golden Nugget at Group 1 level.
