The remarkable run continues.
Champion trainer Gary Hall has won his 11th TABTOUCH WA Pacing Cup at Gloucester Park after pint-sized pacer Chicago Bull sat without cover for the bulk of 2936m event to defeat John Of Arc and Soho Tribeca.
Amazingly, the Hall of Fame horseman has now won the past seven editions.
Chicago Bull now joins The Falcon Strike (x3), Tealsby Karita, Im Themightyquinn (x3), Hokonui Ben and My Hard Copy (x2) as Hall trained WA Pacing Cup winners.
The victory provides winning reinsman Gary Hall Jnr with his 7th Cup winner and he now joins legendary horseman Phil Coulson as the most successful driver in the events history.
Bettors Fire, considered by many as a main challenger was declared a late scratching earlier in the day which forced massive changes to speed maps.
Taken back at the start from his wide draw, Chicago Bull was allowed to settle at the rear of the field while the classy mare Major Reality set the early temp before being joined by Beaudiene Boaz.
Soon after, Beaudiene Boaz fired up and started to over race which forced driver Clint Hall to challenge for the lead.
The lead time was covered in 98.1 seconds.
With a moderate speed being set by Beaudiene Boaz, Hall Jnr pounced on the opportunity to make his move and sent Chicago Bull three wide before parking outside his stablemate.
The first half of the final mile was covered in 29.5 and 30.4 seconds.
Despite racing without cover, Chicago Bull was able to control the race outside the leader.
Soho Tribeca pulled three wide at the 1000m point and took up the fight to the Hall stablemates who continued to control the speed.
The third quarter was clocked in 27.9 seconds.
Racing off the back straight, Chicago Bull raced past Beaudiene Boaz while Soho Tribeca continued to chase strongly.
In the straight, Hall Jnr urged Chicago Bull and the gritty four-year-old dug deep and held the fast finishing John Of Arc while Soho Tribeca fought tenaciously for third.
The last quarter was posted in 28.3 seconds.
The overall time was 3:34.2 which gives the winner a mile rate of 1:57.4.
The victory completes a sweep of the Fremantle/WA Pacing Cups double and Chicago Bull becomes the first pacer since the incomparable Im Themightyquinn (2102) to complete the double in the same season while he joins The Falcon Strike to win the Cups double as four-year-olds.
“He’s a great little horse, his versatility is so good and that makes him such a great racehorse. I made the move once they backed off and I knew that Beaudiene Boaz worked hard early, I was fairly confident once I got outside the leader.” Winning driver Gary Hall Jnr declared.
Following four legs of the Australian Pacing Gold Grand Circuit this season, Chicago Bull joins Lazarus and Dream About Me on 100 points while Inter Dominion winner and New Zealand Cup placegetter Smolda leads the way with 120 points.
Interestingly, the Grand Circuit takes on a refreshing look with youth given that Lazarus, Dream About Me and Chicago Bull are all four-year-olds.
The next leg of the APG Grand Circuit is the $400,000 Eynesbury Victoria Cup at TABCORP Park, Melton on January 28.
