Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Champion Magnificent Storm is firmly on track to challenge — and beat — many of Australia’s best pacers in rich feature events in Brisbane in July.
He gave further proof of his rare talent when he obliterated his six rivals in the 1730m Ramsays Horse Transport Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Aiden De Campo got Magnificent Storm, the $1.04 favourite, away to a flying start from barrier six, and the six-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding simply toyed with the opposition. After easy opening quarters of 29.6sec. and 29.4sec. Magnificent Storm sprinted over the final 400m sections in 28.4sec. and a dazzling 26.3sec. to win by four and a half lengths from Sangue Reale, who trailed him throughout. He rated a sparkling 1.52.9 and could have gone faster.
“Aiden said he was just coasting,” said trainer Ray Williams. “I’m pretty sure I’ll give him a week off and then give him one or maybe two starts before we fly out of Perth on Tuesday July 4 on our way to Brisbane, via Melbourne.
“The plan is to give him three wins in three weeks at Albion Park.” The main targets will be the $200,000 Sunshine Sprint over 1660m on July 15 and the $400,000 Blacks A Fake Championship over 2680m on July 22.
De Campo was full of praise for Magnificent Storm, saying: “It didn’t feel like we were going 26.3sec. for the final quarter, because he is so economical. I have driven a couple of horses who have run quarters in around 26sec. But they have been after a lot slower earlier pace.”
Magnificent Storm has now earned $709,317 from 30 wins and seven placings from 47 starts.