HAIL TO THE CHIEF PUTS THAT FIRST WIN ON THE BOARD

By Graham Potter | Saturday, August 28, 2021

Hail To The Chief gave trainer Michael Nolan his fourth winner from his last fourteen runners (which translates into a recent winning strike rate of 28.57 percent) when he landed a 1300m Maiden Handicap at Toowoomba on August 28.

The win was certainly due as the lightly raced five-year-old son of Tycoon Ruler had been warming up to it nicely when finishing third and then second in his previous two in the build-up to this winning performance.

Accordingly, Hail To The Chief started favourite at $2.05 and, while he was in fifth and then fourth place down the back straight, Hail To The Chief was essentially getting the run of the race on the fence just a couple of lengths off the speed.

Hail To the Chief continued to save ground on the turn, where he moved up to second place, and by the time the field straightened for home, Hail To The Chief was alongside the leader Max’s Source ($10).

Jockey Michael Hellyer then wasted no time in setting Hail To The Chief on his way and he quickly strode to the front and he never let anybody else into the race in the run home, opening up to win by a decisive 3.50 length margin.

This was Hail To The Chief’s first win at his fourth attempt. He has only finished out of the placings on one occasion and that was on debut.