Superstar three-year-old Cyclone Jordy has broken down and will be out of action for 12 months, leaving Chase Me as champion trainer Gary Hall senior’s major hope in the $200,000 WA Derby on October 31.
Cyclone Jordy resumed after a spell in wonderful fashion when he easily won the Battle Of Bunbury from Lincoln Lou, Control The Room and Chase Me last Saturday week, thus reinforcing his standing as the hot favourite for the Derby.
That was the New Zealand-bred pacer’s tenth victory from ten starts in WA and improved his record to 15 starts for 13 wins and one second placing for stakes of $298,772. His victories included the 2024 Golden Slipper and the group 3 Caduceus Club Classic in May this year.
“Cyclone Jordy has done a tendon and will be out for 12 months,” said his disappointed reinsman Gary Hall jnr. “Chase Me is now our No. 1 boy now that Cyclone Jordy is out.”
The New Zealand-bred Chase Me is a quality performer who has had eleven starts for seven wins, three placings and $123,061. His fourth placing in the Battle Of Bunbury was at his first appearance for two months.
Chase Me will start from the No. 3 barrier in the TABtouch Sky Racing WA Derby Prelude over 2536m at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he will clash with the brilliant Greg and Skye Bond-trained Bettor Fortune, who will be driven by Deni Roberts from barrier two.
Bettor Fortune has won at five of his six starts, including easy victories at his first four starts in WA. The Bond stable holds a powerful hand in Friday night’s event with five of the eight starters, with Bettor Fortune joined by Mad Monday (Liam Elliott), When In Vegas (Tom Nally), Belly Up (Jack Callaghan) and Troubadour (Stuart McDonald).
“I think that Chase Me could have beaten Bettor Fortune on Friday night if he had drawn inside of him,” said Hall jnr. “Stuey (McDonald) said that he went super first-up at Bunbury.”
