Dean Braun and his 2011 McInerney Ford Classic winner Mustang Mach
FAVOURABLE DRAW TILTS THE ODDS IN FAVOUR OF CHANCELLOR CULLEN
Victorian trainer Dean Braun’s prospects of winning the $125,000 McInerney Ford Classic for the second year in a row soared when his champion four-year-old Chancellor Cullen drew barrier two on the front line in the group 1 feature at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Braun was successful at his first attempt in this event, 12 months ago, when Mustang Mach started from the outside of the back line and was favourite at 13/8.
Driven by Morgan Woodley, Mustang Mach raced three wide before getting to the breeze after 750m. He got his head in front of the pacemaker Seel N Print 450m from home and went on to win narrowly from the fast-finishing Lovers Delight.
Chancellor Cullen, to be handled by his regular Victorian reinsman Chris Alford, will be a hot favourite from his favourable barrier in the 2100m event. The stallion possesses sparkling gate speed and is a noted frontrunner. He is undefeated at his past six starts and has set the pace at each of his past four in which he has also sprinted home brilliantly.
He has dashed over the final 800m at his past four starts in 54.7sec., 56.3sec., 56.4sec. and 55.7sec.
Most pundits are sure to declare that Chancellor Cullen will charge past the polemarker Vital Equalizer soon after the mobile barrier releases the high-quality field of four-year-olds.
But it is interesting to note that Vital Equalizer, trained by Greg and Skye Bond, has never drawn the No. 1 barrier in his 23 starts in Western Australia. He has drawn the back line at each of his past four starts, winning two of them in grand style when unwinding a sparkling late burst.
It is also noteworthy that Vital Equalizer has drawn barrier two, three and four once each, and has set the pace on each occasion, for two wins and a nose second.
Chancellor Cullen, a winner of five races in New Zealand, has blossomed in Australia where he has had nine starts for seven wins, a nose second and a fifth placing. He is one of nine New Zealand-bred pacers in this week’s classic.
The barrier draw has not been kind to WA’s top two prospects, Im Victorious and Western Cullen. They will start from barriers six and seven, respectively, on the front line.
Western Cullen smashed the State record for a four-year-old over 2506m when he led from the No. 1 barrier and rated 1.56.5 in defeating Im Victorious by just under two lengths in a Golden Nugget Prelude last Friday night. Im Victorious started from barrier No. 7 and raced wide early before working hard in the breeze. To fight on grimly for second (with the final 800m whizzing by in 56.1sec.) was an outstanding effort.
Woodley, who has won the past two McInerney Ford Classics, with Crombie and Mustang Mach, was nominated to drive Vital Equalizer and Bronze Seeker (who will start from the inside of the back line). After considerable thought he opted to handle Bronze Seeker for Bickley trainer Peter Anderson.
Woodley has driven Bronze Seeker at his four WA starts for a win and two thirds. Bronze Seeker trailed the pacemaker Bettor Reason before finishing powerfully to be a very close third to that pacer and Your Good Fortune in a Nugget Prelude last Friday week.
The Bonds hold a strong hand in this week’s classic with four runners --- Vital Equalizer, Your Good Fortune (barrier five), Midnight Dylan (barrier four on the back line) and Mr Nickel (outside of the back line).
“The barrier draw is significant, more so than it is probably at any other metropolitan track in Australia,” Greg Bond said. “We live with that and we’ve got four bites of the cherry.”
Bond has a high opinion of the lightly-raced Your Good Fortune, who finished second to Im Victorious in the WA Derby last April and then went for a spell. He has resumed with wins at Harvey and Pinjarra last month and a wonderful second to Bettor Reason last Friday week after having a tough run in the breeze.
Bond also was pleased with the way Mr Nickel and Midnight Dylan worked in trials at Byford last Sunday morning. Mr Nickel, a winner of 14 races from 36 starts, was untroubled to win a trial over 2150m and Midnight Dylan took the lead about 500m from home before scoring an easy trial win over 2150m.
Mr Nickel stunned punters at Gloucester Park last Friday week when he set the pace before fading badly over the final 400m to finish a distant last behind Bettor Reason after winning at his two previous starts (his first two appearances in WA) by margins of 19m and 15m.
“We’re not quite sure what happened the other night,” Bond said. “He fired out of the gate and when he was restrained he was throwing his head in the air. Blood tests were taken and they were all clear. So I’m just tipping he just blocked his wind a bit.
“I have changed his bit and used it in the trial. He ran home in 56.5sec. and won convincingly, with the ear plugs still in.”
Premier trainer Gary Hall sen. is looking for his fourth success in the McInerney Ford Classic after wins with Love of Glory (1990), The Falcon Strike (2001) and Im Themightyquinn (2008). He will be represented by Bettor Reason and Benjamin Banneker.
Bettor Reason has resumed after a spell in fine form. The winner of two races in New Zealand, Bettor Reason has shone in WA where his eight starts have produced five wins and three seconds. He will start from barrier two on the back line.
Benjamin Banneker is the least experienced runner in the event, but has excellent potential. His five starts, all at Gloucester Park, have resulted in four wins and an unlucky third placing. He is nicely drawn at No. 3 on the front line.
