Millionaire superstar Magnificent Storm is following the racing pattern which led to his victory in the 2023 WA Pacing Cup, and the eight-year-old should be at his peak for the $450,000 TABtouch WA Pacing Cup on Friday week.
That’s the prediction of ace reinsman Aiden De Campo, who is confident that Magnificent Storm will win the $100,000 Catalano Truck Sales Navy Cup over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night, a week after finishing fourth behind Minstrel in last week’s Stratton Cup.
Magnificent Storm, prepared by astute trainer Ray Williams, warmed up for the Pacing Cup in November 2023 by contesting the Stratton Cup and the Navy Cup on the two previous Friday nights.
He finished a head second to Diego in the Stratton Cup before winning the Navy Cup by a length from Alcopony, and then a week later he won the Pacing Cup, in which he defeated Jumpingjackmac and Minstrel.
“I think that is a good recipe for the horse,” said De Campo, who revealed that Magnificent Storm had pulled up big in condition after last week’s Stratton Cup in which he set a fast pace with quarters of the final mile in 29.4sec., 29.1sec., 27.5sec. and 28.1sec.
“Ray told me that Magnificent Storm had pulled up quite big last week, and his heart rate was the highest he has ever recorded when he’s been sound and healthy.
“He hasn’t had a run over 2536m going that hard for close to three years. But a really hard run never hurts him. At his previous runs in this preparation Magnificent Storm has led and walked before sprinting home. Last week it was his toughest hit-out for a long time. And Ray says that he is in great shape and all he needs now is that extra fitness run.”
Magnificent Storm possesses sparkling gate speed, and he should burst straight to the front from barrier four on Friday night.
One of his main rivals is likely to be Penny Black, who was a most unlucky close-up seventh behind Minstrel last week when she was hopelessly blocked for a clear passage and went to the line full of running. The winner of the Navy Cup is guaranteed a start in the Pacing Cup, but Penny Black’s form this season should ensure she gets a start whether she wins or not this week.
Penny Black, to be driven by Emily Suvaljko for leading trainer Michael Young, will begin from the No. 2 barrier on the back line.
“This is not an ideal draw, particularly with Magnificent Storm at No. 4,” said Young. “We are very keen to get Penny Black into the Pacing Cup field, and I think that what she has done should earn her a start. It wasn’t much fun last week watching her hopelessly blocked for a run.”
Champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond have two of the main fancies for the Pacing Cup in Minstrel and Gee Heza Sport and they will be looking for a strong performance from Justcallmemiki, who will be driven by Deni Roberts from barrier six in Friday night’s Navy Cup.
“A front row draw suits Justcallmemiki, and he should be able to get forward from there,” said Roberts. “But it will be hard sitting outside Magnificent Storm.”
Adding interest to the Navy Cup will be the first appearance in WA of Nerano, who will be having his first start since he finished eleventh behind Don Hugo and Minstrel in the final of the Interdominion championship at Menangle on December 14 last year after starting out wide at barrier eight, racing wide early and receiving interference.
Two starts before that he won a 1730m Inters heat at Bathurst, rating 1.51.4. He has raced 75 times for 21 wins, 18 placings and $349,072 in prizemoney.
Eight-year-old Nerano impressed in winning a nine-horse 2150m trial at Byford last Saturday week, rating 1.57.4 after final quarters of 29.5sec., 28.9sec., 29.1sec. and 29.4sec. He began from barrier three on the back line, raced wide early and took the lead after 400m before winning, hard held by trainer Lindsay Harper, by seven lengths from This Time Jacko.
Trainer-reinsman Gary Hall jnr is looking for an improvement from seven-year-old Better Eclipse, who has finished well back at his first two WA outings.
“We have had a few little issues with him after his latest run (three Fridays ago when 11TH behind Mister Smartee),” said Hall. “He is fine now and his work has been good, and he has a favourable draw.”
