Bully’s out – again

By Dave Di Somma - Harness News Desk

The expected return to the racetrack for Australian star Chicago Bull has not happened.

The Western Australian pacer was scheduled to race at Gloucester Park in the early hours of Saturday morning (NZ time) but was scratched by trainer Gary Hall Senior because of swelling to an off foreleg.

Hall is confident it’s not the end for the horse known as “Bully” and he’ll be back once recovered.

Bred by Winton trainers John and Katrina Price and John’s parents Roger and Helen Price, the son of Bettor’s Delight and Chicago Blues had seven starts for two wins in New Zealand before going to Gary Hall senior’s stable in Western Australia.

Overall he has won 43 times from 66 starts, winning more than $1.7 million.

In 2018 Chicago Bull stormed into New Zealand Cup favouritism after a win at Alexandra Park, only for the horse to have a bad response to treatment the next day. He flipped over, breaking vertebrae in his wither.

At the time Gary Hall senior said “he fractured six of them, and totally displaced two of them. He’s a got a hole in the place they were.”

After many months of recovery he’s since returned to racing,  with his last effort a fourth out of 11 as the $1.55 favourite at Gloucester Park in June last year.