WANTED: A driver for champion WA pacer Chicago Bull in the Del-Re National A G Hunter Cup.

The $2 million-plus earner is heading to Tabcorp Park Melton for the $500,000 feature on February 6, but his trainer and driver won’t be coming with him.

The need for a 14-day quarantine returning to WA from Victoria means Gary Hall Sr and Jr will be cheering from afar when Chicago Bull tackles the likes of Lochinvar Art and King Of Swing.

Daniel Jack will be caretaker trainer and Hall Sr said connections would discuss the best local options for a driver.

“The owners want him to come across, even if Gaz (Gary Jr) and I can’t go with him,” Hall Sr said. “He’ll have one more run here, maybe even next Friday night.”

Chicago Bull posted his 61st win from just 92 starts and surged past $2.32 million in earnings with his winning return from a freshen-up at Gloucester Park Friday night.

It was his first run since finishing second in the WA Pacing Cup at Gloucester Park on December 4 and he was made to earn it in a 1min53.9sec mile rate for 2130m, just a second outside the track record.

Chicago Bull’s only previous Melton run was a distant second to Tiger Tara in the Victoria Cup up on October 13, 2018.

TAB’s latest Hunter Cup market has Chicago Bull $9 third favourite behind Lochinvar Art ($1.70) and King Of Swing ($3).

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Any hope of Tornado Valley defending his Woodlands Stud Great Southern Star crown looks to hinge on a Melton trial tonight.

Trainer Andy Gath felt the ageing superstar was disappointing when last of four in a Melton trial last Wednesday, casting doubt on plans for him to resume in the $30,000 Group 2 EB Cochran Trotters’ Cup at Ballarat on Saturday night.

And that was to be his only lead-up race for the Great Southern Star – now back to its original heat/final format and over the sprint trip - at Melton on February 5.

“We won’t run him in the Great Southern Star for the sake of it,” Gath said.

“I was disappointed with his trial last Wednesday. I know they ran home in quick time, but he didn’t show his usual fight in the home straight. Whether he goes to Ballarat depends on how he trials this time.”

Gath takes some heart from being able to resurrect stablemate McLovin, who made it four wins on end when he snared the Group 3 The George Gath at Shepparton on Saturday night.

“Early this campaign his (McLovin) form didn’t look too good, but he’s had some better draws, got fitter and got his confidence back. Hopefully it can be the same with Tornado Valley, but we haven’t got a lot of time on our side as far as the Great Southern Star goes.”

McLovin now goes straight to the Great Southern Star, while Gath said the plan was for Majestuoso to tackle the $50,000 Group 1 V L Dullard Cup on January 30.

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Lochinvar Art's young stablemate Patsbeachstorm turned almost as many heads as the champ himself at Shepparton.

The three-year-old was first-up from 10 months out through a life-threatening illness and trainer-driver David Moran was in awe of how easily he won given his less-than-ideal preparation.

“Two Shepparton trials I had planned for him were scrapped so I thought he was vulnerable, but he did it really easily,” Moran said. “He’ll improve a heap from that and we’re headed towards the NSW Derby.”

It’ll be interesting if Moran throws Patsbeachstorm straight into the big league for a crack at the $100,000 Group 1 VHRC 3YO Classic at Melton on January 30.

Lochinvar Art cruised around to win the Neatline Homes Shepparton Cup without being extended by 15.7m and equalled the race and track record 1min56.1sec mile rate for 2690m.

He’ll probably do the same again in the Group 1 PETstock Ballarat Cup next Saturday night with no NZ or interstate raiders.

But then we get the long-awaited fourth clash between Lochinvar Art and King Of Swing – King Of Swing leads 2-1 so far - in the Hunter Cup on February 6.