Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Managing part-owner Rob Tomlinson was lavish in his praise of Magnificent Storm after the six-year-old star had scored a superb victory in the DTS All Your Civil And Construction Supply Needs Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“You could see how devastating he was tonight,” said Tomlinson. “Aldo (driver Aldo Cortopassi) said he felt enormous, and that run should top him right off for the Nullarbor Slot race on Friday week. He will go straight to the Nullarbor now, and won’t need to race next Friday night.
“It was good that we finally got the opportunity not to be the one doing all the work. The 2536m of the Nullarbor will be no problem for the horse. Ray (trainer Ray Williams) has him in the best condition he’s been in for quite a while.”
Magnificent Storm was the $4.10 second favourite from the outside barrier in the quality field of eight, and Cortopassi did not bustle him early. He settled down at the rear while the $3.30 favourite Mighty Ronaldo scorched through the lead time in 34.8sec. as he resisted a strong challenge from $7 chance Steel The Show, who led by a length after 100m but was unable to cross to the front.
Eventually the pace slackened, with opening quarters of 30.8sec. and 29.2sec. Magnificent Storm was sixth at the bell, one-out and two-back, and Cortopassi bided his time before he sent the New Zealand-bred champion pacer forward, with a three-wide burst 430m from home.
Magnificent Storm surged to the front on the home turn and coasted to victory, beating the fast-finish Lavra Joe ($5.50) by a length, rating 1.54.5 over the 2130m.
Lavra Joe was most impressive. He raced three wide early and was restrained to the rear. He was last with 350m to travel before he went six wide on the home turn and sprinted powerfully. Whatabro ($91) raced three back on the pegs before unwinding a spirited late burst to finish an eye-catching third.
Steel The Show was a sound fourth after racing in the breeze all the way, while Mighty Ronaldo wilted to fifth after overracing in front.
Williams was delighted at Magnificent Storm’s performance, saying: “Aldo said he was just jogging and was always going to win. He has pulled up extremely well, and his heart (rate) was low.
“The main thing is keeping him the way he is now. He is very good in his head. I’ll probably give him a track run next Saturday.”