Aussie Update - 15 October

By Adam Hamilton

THE next round of Chicago Bull’s rivalry with Shockwave headlines another big weekend of Aussie racing.

Chicago Bull has what looks a big advantage in the barrier draw for the $50,000 Group 2 Mount Eden Sprint (1730m), landing the pole with Shockwave right next door in gate two.

It’s almost a given Chicago Bull will have the speed to hold-out Shockwave from next door with the only potential wildcard at the start being the speed Vampiro, who has history of blasting out to lead from wide draw. He’s drawn seven.

With just nine in the race – all drawn the front – it’s very likely Aiden de Campo will opt to drop straight in behind Chicago Bull and hope for luck.

Shockwave beat Chicago Bull first-up from a spell, but “Bully” turned the tables last outing. Shockwave lost no fans with a huge second.

It’s the next step towards what now shapes as “locals only” stoushes in the big double – the Fremantle and WA Pacing Cups – in late November/early December at Gloucester Park.

Chicago Bull and Shockwave are fighting it out for top seeding with others like Mighty Conqueror and Vampiro also commanding respect at their best.

It’s very unlikely, given the all the restrictions of COVID-19, that any eastern states horses will tackle the two features this year.

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GLAMOUR Kiwi mare Our Princess Tiffany faces a big test at her first run for new trainer Dean Braun at Melton on Saturday night.

The former champion filly will start from outside the back row over 1730m in the Group 3 Make Mine Cullen, while key Emma Stewart-trained rivals Amelia Rose (gate four), Kualoa (five) and Maajida (six) all have the front row.

Our Princess Tiffany has eased from $4.20 to $4.40 on the Aussie TAB, while Amelia Rose has been the big firmer from $4 into $2.80. Kualoa is $4 to $4.40 and Maajida $6 to $7.50.

On the same card, last week’s history-making filly Pink Galahs gets her chance for a second Group 1 victory in the space of a week.

Last Saturday night she upstaged Australia’s best trotters in the Bill Collins Sprint.

This time she’s back against the three-year-old fillies in the Victoria Trotters’ Oaks and a $1.50 chance from gate four.

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ANOTHER week and another city for much-travelled Kiwi pacer Ashley Locaz.

Travel issues dashed hopes of the classy pacer tackling last week’s Victoria Cup after some sparkling Queensland form.

But now he’s in NSW with Craig Cross with a view to heading back to NZ out of Sydney.

Ashley Locaz is $2.50 favourite in the free-for-all (race four) at Menangle on Saturday night.

The meeting also features four semi-finals in the NSW Breeders Challenge series for three-year-old pacers.