Chancellor Cullen, who will start a short priced favourite in Friday night's G1 McInerney Ford Classic at Gloucester Park
Chancellor Cullen, rated by some as the most exciting pacer in the country, will start as a short price favourite after he drew favourably in barrier two in Friday night’s $125,000 McInerney Ford Classic at Gloucester Park, the first Group One of the TABtouch Western Bonanza carnival.
The boom son of Christian Cullen has drawn the best of the main chances with the Greg and Skye Bond trained Your Good Fortune in barrier five, last year’s WA Derby winner Im Victorious in barrier six and the TABtouch Four-Year-Old classic winner Western Cullen in seven. Vital Equalizer has also drawn well, coming up with the coveted barrier one.
Chancellor Cullen flew into Perth last Friday and has pleased his trainer Dean Braun since arriving in the west.
“I couldn’t be happier with the way he has travelled” said Braun.
“The last time we were here it was a bit of a horror trip with a few things going wrong before winning the Group One, but I couldn’t be happier this time around.”
Braun ended his action packed Perth trip last year by winning the McInerney Ford Classic with Mustang Mach, but in an ominous warning to his rivals on Friday night, Braun has publicly stated that Chancellor Cullen is “the best horse I’ve trained”.
Champion reinsman Chris Alford, who won the Australian title last year with 336 wins, 46 clear of his nearest rival Daryl Douglas, will fly to Perth to partner Chancellor Cullen
“Chris has been ringing every day to make sure everything is on track, I think he’s worried Morgan (Woodley) will jump on like last year” laughed Braun
Chancellor Cullen takes on two Group One winners in Western Cullen and Im Victorious, who ran 1 – 2 in last week’s Lancaster Park Golden Nugget Prelude. Western Cullen smashed the WA State record for a four-year-old over 2506m when he led all the way and rated 1.56.5 in defeating Im Victorious by just under two lengths. Im Victorious was gallant in defeat, starting from barrier 7 and raced wide early before working hard outside the leader and ultimate winner.
Morgan Woodley, who has won the past two editions of the McInerney Ford Classic aboard Crombie (2010) and Mustang Mach (2011), has opted to drive the Peter Anderson trainer Bronze Seeker despite having the choice of driving Vital Equalizer as well.
In an action-packed support card, reigning Australian Horse of the Year, Im Themightyquinn will round off his Victoria Cup campaign in race eight, the Ford Territory Pace, while star mare Sensational Gabby will have to overcome a backline draw in the Ford Kuga Series Final (race 6) worth $25,000. Sensational Gabby will be one of the favourites for the inaugural Group One $100,000 Nepean Conveyors Mares Classic the following week.
The first race on Friday night is 5.45pm (WAST) with gates opening at 5pm. The feature event, the McInerney Ford 4YO Classic is race seven and set to jump at 9pm. If you can’t make it to Gloucester Park, tune into Sky Racing1 with an extended coverage from Gareth Hall and Wes Cameron.
For more details of the Western Bonanza Carnival visit www.gloucesterpark.com.au