BIG UNION LOOKS GOOD AS HE SHOOTS FOR HAT-TRICK

Jerome Tan’s three-year-old shows plenty in his workout, ready for turf test over 1,400m

- Brian Miller

The last time we saw Big Union in action, he was involved in a dogfight with Pacific Master in a Class 41,200m contest on June 22.

The pair battled it out to the finish, locked together like Siamese twins.

A print of the finish had to be called and, after much scrutiny, Big Union got the verdict by a nose.

It was close but it was thoroughly deserving, as he did not have the smoothest of passages during the race.

Indeed, for most of the trip on the Polytrack, he had to race wide and without cover.

Yet, he prevailed and it tells us that Big Union has got to be something special.

That win was his second in succession. On June 9, he had pulverised his Restricted Maiden rivals, winning that 1,100m sprint on the Polytrack by almost four lengths.

It was his third race start and trainer Jerome Tan would have been mighty pleased with the three-year-old galloper's performance.

Big Union will be having his fifth outing on July 21 and, as part of his preparation, Tan sent his charge out for a training gallop on July 16.

With Brazilian jockey Bernardo Pinheiro in the saddle, the son of Zoustar was in his element, clocking a cool 41.8sec for the 600m and that, after being put through some strong cantering.

Tan would have been pleased. So, too, Pinheiro, who steered him to those two victories.