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
Prince Lincoln finally shows what he’s made of - and, wow, was that a blazing demolition!
Hey Wendy and Amy, go easy of Fergs as he’s doing a sterling job taming Lincoln Linda
Third time lucky for Wave’s little bro Omaha Lincoln who finally debuts at Auckland
Copy N Paste a ‘tradesman’ but look for bold debut run at Cambridge on Thursday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
6.38pm
“I’m not sure where she’s at. It’s a big drop in class - there’s not much in there - but I don’t think she’ll morph into a star. She was hitting the sulky wheels last time and over-racing but that won’t happen again.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.36pm
“She paced roughly last time but we’ve done a bit of work on her since so she should be happier this time. It depends on the trip she gets (from four) but she’ll go an honest race. She’s no superstar, but she doesn’t miss many cheques.”
Race 8: Copy N Paste
8.45pm
“He’s dour and tradesman-like but he’s getting there. It’s his first time off the place, and the trip will improve him, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him competitive in what is a very weak field. Sometimes you don’t know what the Bettors Delights have got until they front up at the races but he trialled well and beat a couple who are against him here.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.53pm
“He actually tried last time. He’s a nice horse but can change his mind quickly. Full blinds woke him up last time so we’ll see if he responds to them again this time.”
Race 3: Omaha Lincoln
5.46pm
“I think he’ll go a good race but it’s his first time at Alexandra Park so I don’t want to talk him up too much. He’s got enough ability to win a race like this, whether he’s ready to do it, we’ll find out. He can get a bit keen at times but I think he’s a chance if he does everything right.”
Race 5: Spiritual Bliss
6.54pm
“It was another great run last time after leading and she’s a good, tough mare who will go another good race. What trip she gets will determine where she finishes. From five, I’m picking she might go back this time but I’ll leave that up to the driver (Harrison Orange).”
Race 6: Sharpe Stride
7.24pm
“He’s a nice trotter, a big strong colt. He can get a bit hot but there’s nothing wrong with how he goes. He’s certainly not good enough to deal with these but he’s there for a run around.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
8.57pm
“He’s racing in career-best form and they were struggling for runners so I put him in. He gets a starting fee of $1750 so we won’t go home empty-handed. I’m really happy with him, he’s handling right-handed racing better these days. But he’s racing the bear cats so I’m not suggesting for a second he’ll give them a fright.”
Race 10: Colonel Lincoln
9.25pm
“I thought he went super last time. It was a vast improvement on the previous two starts and you’ve got to remember he was out for a long time. He’s coming to it now and improving all the time. I couldn’t label him but I’d be surprised if he’s not in the first three or four. He’s trained on well and gets a front row draw.”
Race 10: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.25pm
“He was given too much to do last time - up to park at the bell - and you can’t drive the ears off them every time. With a more conservative trip he’d be right in it.”
