Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Underrated young pacer Ardens Horizon maintained his superb form and caused an upset when he outsprinted champion Magnificent Storm in the home straight to win the 2503m Beau Rivage Buffet Dining Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Byford trainer-reinsman Callan Suvaljko, who races Ardens Horizon, a New Zealand-bred four-year-old on lease, was thrilled with the victory and declared: “running past Magnificent Storm will be his claim to fame for a long time.”
Ardens Horizon, who started from the front line in the standing-start event, was a $21.10 chance, with Magnificent Storm, the backmarker off 60 metres and a well supported $2.75 chance, dominating betting with Himself ($2.20 favourite) and Soho Dow Jones ($5).
But it was Ardens Horizon who took out the honours in a hotly-contested event in which Magnificent Storm was simply magnificent in defeat.
Ardens Horizon was smartest to begin from barrier four on the front line, and he led for a bit more than the first lap before Soho Dow Jones, who galloped at the start, surged to the front. Magnificent Storm broke into a gallop briefly moments after the start and lost two lengths.
With 1450m to travel Aiden de Campo sent Magnificent Storm forward to move into the one-out, one-back position and following the breeze horse Himself. With 600m to go Himself’s nearside sulky tyre was punctured when Ardens Horizon’s offside fore hoof contacted that pacer’s sulky wheel.
Deni Roberts then sent Himself to the front 550m from home before Magnificent Storm burst into the lead at the 400m and turned for home with a clear advantage. But he was unable to hold off the late challenge from Ardens Horizon, who had enjoyed a perfect trip all the way and scored by a half-length, rating 1.58.9.
Ardens Horizon, a son of champion sire Bettors Delight, did not show up in New Zealand where he had ten starts for one win, one third placing and earnings of $12,860 as a two-year-old in 2021 before he was purchased by champion WA trainer Gary Hall snr on behalf of several stable clients.
He then did not have a start for the Hall stable, with Suvaljko, who was working for Hall at the time, saying: “The horse didn’t handle working in the sand and I got him off Senior (Hall snr) and leased him.”
Suvaljko has now given Ardens Horizon 24 starts for 12 wins, eight placings and stakes of $112,120. Ardens Horizon’s first 12 starts for Suvaljko produced five wins, three seconds, three thirds and one fifth before he served notice of better things to come with his fourth placing behind Tricky Miki in the WA Derby last November.
Soon after his Derby run Ardens Horizon qualified to contest stands, and he was successful at his first attempt in a standing-start event when Suvaljko drove him to a five-length victory over Awaitinginstructions in the 2670m Collie Cup in late November. Eight of his next starts have been in stands for wins at Pinjarra, Northam and two at Gloucester Park.”
“Ardens Horizon has kept improving, particularly when he’s been up against the better horses,” said Suvaljko. “He has performed way above my expectations.”
Ardens Horizon is the first foal out of the unraced mare Arden’s Rose, and he is closely related to several smart pacers, including Bettor’s Strike (77 starts for 16 wins, 26 placings and $890,201 — with his wins including the 2009 Victoria Cup at Melton when he beat Smoken Up and Blacks A Fake), Rocknroll Arden (27 starts for six wins, 12 placings and $172,154) and Arden’s Choice (44 starts for seven wins, 18 placings and $282,296).
Magnificent Storm was gallant in defeat, with trainer Ray Williams saying: “It was a fantastic run; I can’t believe it. All credit to Aiden, who drove him perfectly. His times were good, with final quarters of 27.8sec., 28.6sec., 28.6sec. and 28.7sec.
“He will fly out from Perth to Melbourne on Monday, and then fly to Brisbane the following day.”
Williams will leave for Brisbane on Tuesday to prepare Magnificent Storm for three feature events at Albion Park — the $350,000 Rising Sun over 2138m on July 8, the $200,000 1660m Sunshine Sprint on July 15 and the $355,000 Blacks A Fake Queensland Championship over 2680m on July 22. He will be driven in his Queensland starts by de Campo.