Diego
CHAMPION trainer Gary Hall is in the twilight of his stellar career but still has unfinished business.
Hall has dominated WA's biggest open-class features – the WA Pacing Cup and the Fremantle Cup for much of the past 25 years.
The 74-year-old has won a staggering 13 WA Pacing Cups and isn't far behind with 10 Fremantle Cups.
Before he hangs up the bridle, Hall Sr is hungry to add a win in WA's newest, sexiest and richest race – the $1.25mil Group 1 Nullarbor.
"I'd love to win it. To be honest, I think we were stiff not to win it last year. Jumpingjackmac went super, and we would've won with a bit more luck," he said.
"I've got him and Diego, who also ran last year (finished sixth) on target for it next month."
Diego and Jumpingjackmac ran second and third, respectively, behind exciting four-year-old stablemate Mister Smartee in a ripping Pinjarra 2185m trial last Wednesday.
"I was thrilled with all three, and they're all a few weeks away from being primed," Hall Sr said.
So, what does that mean when Diego and Jumpingjackmac tackle Monday's $50,000 Group 3 Mount Eden Sprint (1684m) at Pinjarra?
"I think Diego is still the one to beat, even though he's got plenty of improvement to come," he said.
"I think he can lead (from gate four), and he loves the track. He's won two Pinjarra Cups. We know how good he is in front, too.
"I'm sure both he and Jumpingjackmac have come back a little better than last time in work, and I've deliberately timed their runs to peak by Nullarbor time, and there's the Freo Cup the week after, too."
But Hall Sr and his fellow slot owners may have to choose between the two and settle for just the one Nullarbor runner.
"Yeah, we've only got the one slot, and I don't know who's got what horse or which slots may still be open," he said.
"I'm sure both of our horses would be very competitive, but if we have to choose, then so be it."
"Diego is a better leader, but he pretty much has to lead to be a winning hope in the top races, while Jumpingjackmac is more versatile and would be competitive from anywhere, especially if they go hard, and he can camp just off them."
"We've got this race and then probably the Bunbury Cup at the end of the month to see where both of them are at."
Hall Sr says his 26-horse team is one of the strongest for depth he's had in many years.
"It's the best group of four-year-olds I've ever had; it's just a bit of a shame Never Ending is a four-year-old, too," he said.
"Mister Smartee was way underdone and went terrific in that trial the other day. He's my best four-year-old for pure talent, but Skylou and The Black Flash are right up there with him. They're a seriously good group."
"I also really like some of the two-year-olds I've got; there are four who stand out. Two are American Ideals; there's a Vincent and a Bettors (Delight), as well."
