The Shark Attacks the Valley

news.com.au reports:

Paul Gallen, rugby league's most feared character, is about to descend on Melbourne with twin sporting ambitions - Cox Plate success with Te Akau Shark and knocking out former AFL enforcer Barry Hall.

Gallen is a part-owner in gun Kiwi Te Akau Shark, the first horse he has ever owned.

Back from London where he has been training for his November 15 “Code War” heavyweight boxing match with Hall, Gallen is excited about the prospect of landing a famous double.

“I'm looking forward to getting down to Melbourne to watch my boy run in the Cox Plate,” Gallen said ahead of the Moonee Valley Racing Club's Breakfast With The Best trackwork session to decide on the final Cox Plate field.

Runner-up in the Epsom Handicap, Te Akau Shark is yet to win a Group 1 but, as MVRC chief executive Michael Browell noted, the horse has “X-factor.”

Gallen believes the New Zealand star deserves his place in the Cox Plate.

“I'm only new to racing but I can't see how a horse who's fifth in the betting ($13) can't get into the race,” he said.

“He's got the x-factor and he will be successful like me against Barry Hall in a month's time.”

Veteran of just nine starts, Te Akau Sharks has missed the place only once, winning on five occasions, including once at Group 2 level.

Gallen, 38, last month retired after 349 NRL games.

He is unbeaten in nine professional fights.

Former St Kilda and Sydney forward Hall has not fought in 26 years after boxing regularly as a teenaged amateur.

Gallen and Hall are scheduled to meet at Margaret Court Arena in just under a month.

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