Chicago Storm will kick off his spring campaign geared towards some potential Melbourne riches in Saturday’s $150,000 Behemoth Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville.
The David Aldridge-trained six-year-old hasn’t raced since a brilliant Adelaide Racing Carnival campaign winning the Listed City of Adelaide Stakes before beating smart mare Second To Nun at Morphettville in late April.
Arguably his biggest run coming when he was pressured up in the lead before only being cut down in the final 50m when third behind En Francais in the Group 3 Cummings Stakes at Morphettville on Goodwood Day.
“He’s in good nick,’’ Aldridge said.
“The 1200m might be a bit sharp for him on Saturday but he’s bright and ready for it,’’ he said.
Chicago Storm’s impressive form last time in work was largely due to a bond formed with Victorian jockey Carleen Hefel and a change in race pattern that came about by chance.
“He really got his confidence up last preparation,’’ Aldridge said.
“He basically landed in front by accident one day when Carleen (Hefel) rode him and she said he just loves it.
“He thrived up in front and even in that last race (the Cummings), half way up the straight you thought he was home, but after he was taken on the whole way and he just tired the last little bit and you’ve got to be tough to do that,’’ he said.
Chicago Storm finished fifth in last year’s Murray Bridge Gold Cup before winning the Gawler Cup and Aldridge said his rise in the ratings might force his hand to look interstate.
“I think his rating is going to be too high for a couple of those races,’’ Aldridge said.
“I’ll get Saturday out the way and he’ll then go to the Leon Macdonald Stakes at 1400m and weight-for-age.
“He could be better suited in a Balaklava Cup given his pattern, I think he’d be better suited there then the Murray Bridge Cup and there are a couple of nice races over 1500m at Moonee Valley I am looking at.
“There is a set weights race at the Valley that would suit him, the So You Think Stakes (worth $200,000) over 1500m an there is also a VOBIS Gold race on Cox Plate eve there over 1500m that is also set weights and penalties that could be a good be a nice race him.
“I think Moonee Valley and Caulfield would be tracks that would suit him and he’s unbeaten over 1500m,’’ he said.
Chicago Storm will be ridden by apprentice Maggie Collett for the first time on Saturday.
It will be the third time Collett has ridden in a Group 3 feature, while last season’s leading apprentice Rochelle Milnes will have her first Group race ride aboard Struck By for the Travis Doudle stable.
