JEROME TAN'S BIG UNION LOOKS SET FOR A BIG FIGHT

With Pinheiro up, he goes well in a training gallop and looks ship-shape for Sept 21 test

- Brian Miller

Entered for the main race on Sept 21, it is not going to be a stroll in the park for Big Union.

There is Ghalib, who is right up there at 102 rating points.

Makin is also in the line-up - and he is fresh from a fourth placing behind Lim's Saltoro in the Raffles Cup.

And to complicate matters even more, there is the looming presence of Pacific Vampire.

He is after blood. Sitting on a double, he is looking to make it three from 10 starts.

And few will dare bet against it happening.

But Big Union is not about to be cowed.

Sure, there is a job ahead in that 1,400m race for Class 1 horses.

But there is also a juicy $100,000 carrot as the total prize purse and, of course, bragging rights.

Jerome Tan has not been galloping away with a ton of winners but he is doing fine and it was only at the recently concluded meeting that he sent out Energy Baby to take the last race.

His horses look to be in good order and he has left no stone unturned in getting Big Union up and ready for battle.

So it was, as a final act before the showdown, he sent his charge out for a piece of work on the training track.