Chicago Bull and Gary Hall junior in one of the best of their 40 wins.
Chicago Bull shock withdrawal from New Zealand Cup after freak accident
By Barry Lichter • 30 October 2018
Perth pacer Chicago Bull is out of the New Zealand Trotting Cup after a freak accident and he will be sidelined for at least four months.
Gary Hall junior told www.lincolnfarms.co.nz Chicago Bull has fractured bones in his wither and will have to be boxed for at least two months.
Hall is still coming to terms with the terrible diagnosis, made only an hour ago after X-rays at a Cambridge veterinary clinic revealed the damage.
The horse was undergoing routine treatment with fluids and electrolytes after his stunning win at Alexandra Park last Friday night when he had an anaphylactic reaction.
“He panicked and went flying back, flipped and landed on his wither. He’s had the treatment heaps of times and my vet back home says it’s just a one-in-a-million chance.
“He was in a bad way for an hour but then started walking and things looked all good.
‘‘I even jogged him on Sunday and Monday and everything seemed all right.
‘‘But when I checked him in the afternoons he wasn’t great. He looked uncomfortable walking.
“Even then we thought it was not that bad, just muscle soreness and stiffness.
“But when we treated him with anti-inflammatories and he didn’t get any better we decided to take him for X-rays today.
“We still didn’t have any real concerns but the X-rays showed he’s fractured all six bones in his wither. The long term prognosis is pretty good though and they say he should make a full recovery.
“They reckon he’ll get over it in four months but he’ll have to be boxed for the first half of that.
“It’s just one of those things. I’ve been in this game long enough to know it’s not the first time something like this has happened.
“We’re still not home from the vet yet and I feel like I just want to go to bed and try to put it out of my mind.’’
Hall says it’s particularly hard to take being so far from home in Western Australia.
It was too soon to even think about when he might be able to transport Chicago Bull home but he would need time to recover here first.
TAB bookmakers reacted immediately promoting Ultimate Machete to $3.60 favourite for the November 13 feature with Australian Tiger Tara second fancy at $3.90.
More news in Harness
$101 winner Lincoln Wave has improved and is worth following in Friday’s derby lead-up
OK Sammy, lightning bolts aside, Ray’s relying on you to do things right this time
Lincoln Dealer has the genes but not the barrier draw for Cambridge debut
HRNZ boss Brad Steele resigns after less than two years; chairman praises his work
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Lincoln LInda
5.14pm
“The fillies she raced against in the Sires’ Stakes Semi were the best around so this is a massive drop in class for her. I imagine Fergie will work his way forward, as she’s best in front, and then she’d become the one to beat.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
5.16pm
“The draw helps as he likes being in front. The raw ability is there but from time to time he’s reluctant to show it. But that last start was a vast improvement.”
Race 1: Colonel Lincoln
5.16pm
“He was definitely in need of the run first-up and will benefit from another. He’s been off the scene for a long time.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.08pm
“He did well second-up, peeling off a 55.1 half. He’s been a slow maturer but I think he’s getting stronger as he gets older - he certainly feels much stronger in his work.”
Race 5: Lincoln Wave
7.08pm
“The Cambridge race has brought him on and I’m sure he’ll go well again, but he won’t be butchered a week out from the Derby. I don’t want to get carried away but he’s a pretty good horse, the best of our three in the race. He’s a year younger than Suger Ray but has a bit more ability. It’s hard to know where he’ll take us but he has the potential to be a classic colt.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.08pm
“He’s in the zone, he’s feeling really great, and he won’t go badly. But he’ll need luck from the draw.”
Race 9: Spiritual Bliss
9.04pm
“She’s racing better horses now and has done well to cop getting parked in some hard-run races. Leading is her go and she’ll get her chance from the inside draw.”
Race 10: Rivergirl Bella
9.36pm
“She has got a bit of speed but she can’t carry it very far. But if she gets the right trip, and gets out at the right time, not too soon, she’s always a chance.”
Race 10: Jessie Lincoln
9.36pm
“Harry blamed himself for the horse breaking at the start at Cambridge - he said he asked her to go a bit too quickly off the gate. She shouldn’t do it again. She’ll hold her own here, I’m sure.”
Race 10: Marylynes Boy
9.36pm
“He’s been training well but he’s only a little colt having his first start and from the second row I think Nathan will be happy to just see him get around safely.”
