Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
The aptly-named WA-bred six-year-old Talks Up A Storm has lived up to his name for much if his career, and he continues to delight his trainer Murray Lindau with his excellent efforts on the track.
By American sire Artspeak and out of the New Zealand-bred mare Typhoon Tan, Talks Up A Storm is the first pacer to have earned in excess of $300,000 for Lindau.
Driven by Kyle Harper, Talks Up A Storm, the $4.60 third favourite, gave a dashing frontrunning display to win the $31,000 The Lady Camel Free-For-All at Gloucester Park on Friday night to take his career record to 72 starts for 18 wins, 19 placings and stakes of $319,292.
“He is the first horse I’ve trained to have earned $300,000,” said a proud Lindau, whose previous best earner was Chiaroscuro, who amassed $231,127 from 17 wins and 28 placings from 85 starts. Chiaroscuro was retired after Harper had driven him to victory over Vampiro at Gloucester Park on July 16, 2021.
“Talks Up A Storm was a storm in a teacup as a baby,” said the 70-year-old Lindau. “He was all over the shop, going at a hundred miles an hour and leaving me wondering how I could get it all under control.
“Typhoon Tan had a character which said she would do just what she wanted to. Talks Up A Storm had a similar character, but he is now becoming a much better racehorse.”
Talks Up A Storm is the first foal out of Typhoon Tan, who raced three times in New Zealand as a two-year-old for two second placings before continuing her career in WA, ending with earnings of $141,722 from 14 wins and 24 placings from 74 starts.
Talks Up A Storm made a wonderful start to his career when, on debut, he won the Group 1 Sales Classic for two-year-old colts and geldings at Gloucester Park in February 2020.
On Friday night, Talks Up A Storm began brilliantly from out wide at barrier six to burst to the front, and then after modest opening quarters of 31.2sec. and 29.6sec. he sprinted over the final 400m sections in 28.1sec. and 27.7sec. to win by just under a length from the $3.20 favourite The Miki Taker, who fought on doggedly after racing in the breeze all the way. Sangue Reale ($11) finished strongly from sixth at the bell to be third.
“The plan was to lead,” said Lindau. “That’s his biggest asset, his gate speed, and he also has options if he doesn’t lead. From out wide, he begins so much better than he does when he’s drawn close to the fence.
“I’ve got to be a bit careful with him because of his constitution which is not overly great. He put the writing on the wall the previous Friday when second to Aardiebytheseaside (following his second to Never Ending and his third behind Tenzing Bromac).”