Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Champion pacer Magnificent Storm continued on his merry way with an effortless victory in the $30,000 GPHR Members Sprint at Gloucester Park on Friday night, and trainer Ray Williams declared that the New Zealand-bred six-year-old was heading in the right direction for his assault on three rich feature events at Brisbane’s Albion Park next month.
“He doesn’t seem to be going that fast (with final 400m sections of 27.1sec. and 26.7sec.) and he will have one more run, next Friday week, before travelling to Queensland,” said Williams. “That will suit him, racing fortnightly, with his Brisbane debut set for July 8.”
Aiden De Campo sent Magnificent Storm, the $1.04 favourite from the outside barrier in the field of four, to the front after 50 metres, and the gelding coasted through the lead time in a casual 8.1sec. before modest opening quarters of 29.7sec. and 29.4sec., followed by a sizzling final 800m in 53.8sec. He rated a slick 1.52.5 over the 1730m — which was considerably faster than his 1.55.2 rate when he won the Members Sprint from Diego and Chicago Bull 12 months earlier.
Williams and De Campo have now won this event twice, with De Campo following a family tradition with his late grandfather Ray De Campo training, and his father Andrew driving Smooth Bret to victory in the 1987 Members Sprint. Andrew De Campo also trained Ohoka Ace for his wins in this event in 2005 and 2006.
Aiden De Campo was full of praise, saying: “Magnificent Storm is a funny horse who doesn’t really feel any different when he’s running fast or running slow. We wanted to give him a good hit-out tonight, and he did it easily. He has pulled up super and his heart rate is low.
“He felt like he could’ve done another lap. I was surprised that he ran 27.1sec. down the back, followed by a 26.7sec. quarter. I didn’t think he was going that quick.”
Magnificent Storm has now raced 49 times for 32 wins, seven placings and $744,117 in prizemoney.