Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Evergreen champion Magnificent Storm fared badly in the random draw for the $50,000 Barbagallo Motoring Excellence Governor’s Cup over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night, but the wide barrier at No. 8 on the front line should not prevent him from remaining undefeated as a nine-year-old this year.
He has competed with youthful enthusiasm to win Group 3 events at his four appearances this year, the 1730m Village Kid Sprint at Gloucester Park, the 2692m Pinjarra Cup, the 1684m Mount Eden Sprint at Pinjarra and the 2569m Bunbury Cup last Saturday week.
Veteran Mt Helena trainer Ray Williams will have Magnificent Storm in peak condition for this week’s assignment, a week before he contests the $1,250,000 TABtouch Nullarbor slot race.
“Starting in the Governor’s Cup has always been the plan for Magnificent Storm,” said his driver Aiden De Campo. “He seems to back up well from the run before a big race. Eight is not an easy gate, but he will run a good race which should top him off nicely for the Nullarbor the following week.
“He was good at his latest start, winning the Bunbury Cup when he did just what he had to.”
Magnificent Storm’s main danger is likely to be ace trainer Justin Prentice’s marvellous eight-year-old Mighty Ronaldo, who will be driven by Gary Hall Jnr from a favourable draw at No. 2 on the back line.
“This is a perfect draw for him,” said Hall, who has been impressed with the WA-bred gelding’s recent efforts. Mighty Ronaldo worked hard early before setting the pace and finishing second to Minstrel in a 2130m Free-For-All two starts ago before he raced four back on the pegs and ran home powerfully to finish third behind Magnificent Storm and Hugotastic in the 2569m Bunbury Cup last Saturday week.
Prominent trainer Ryan Bell is looking for his five-year-old Franco Encore to cause an upset by taking advantage of the coveted No. 1 barrier. The New Zealand-bred gelding, a noted frontrunner, will be driven by Ryan Warwick.
“Franco Encore is going very well,” said Bell. “He is a one-paced runner who has got the draw and will be aiming to make every post a winner.
“The plan will be to jump in front, and I’m not sure whether he has ever been beaten when he has led. So, we will be staying in front; we have nothing to lose, and he gets a chance to prove himself.”
Bell’s second Cup runner is Tiger Royal, who raced in the breeze before winning from Belly Up over 2130m two starts ago in considerably weaker company. “Tiger Royal is back in form and when he is he usually retains that form. But obviously the draw hurts.” He will be driven by Kyle Symington.
Star driver Deni Roberts is confident of a strong performance from the Greg and Skye Bond-trained Tualou, who raced in the one-out and one-back position before sprinting over the final 400m in 27.3sec. to snatch a last-stride victory over Rockandrollartist over 2130m last Friday night.
“Tualou is very fast and he has a nice draw,” said Roberts. “He likes to be right up on speed, and I’ll be hoping to get cover.”
The Michael Young-trained Hugotastic warmed up for this week’s Cup with an excellent effort to finish a half-length second to Magnificent Storm in the Bunbury Cup after trailing that pacer throughout and finishing along the sprint lane.
“He is racing really well, but it is a tricky draw for him,” said driver Emily Suvaljko. “I’m not sure what tactics we will adopt.”