Superior race fitness should be the key factor in millionaire star pacer Magnificent Storm’s bid to win the $35,000 Howard Porter Memorial over 2536m at Gloucester Park on Friday night, according to the eight-year-old’s driver Aiden De Campo.
And drawing the prized No. 1 barrier gives Magnificent Storm a decided edge over his key rivals Mister Smartee and Minstrel, each of whom will be resuming after enjoying a beneficial winter spell.
“It’s good to draw one --- so he won’t get posted three deep (like his previous start when a wilting fifth behind Menemsha in the 2536m August Cup three weeks ago),” said De Campo.
“Magnificent Storm has super gate speed, and the 2500m suits him. Minstrel and Mister Smartee should be pretty forward, but they haven’t the race fitness under their belts.”
Minstrel will begin from barrier three, with Mister Smartee at barrier five, and Minstrel’s up-and-coming stablemate Gee Heza Sport at No. 4.
Eight-year-old Minstrel is the winner of 27 races, and he shone at his four starts earlier this year when he won the Pinjarra Cup, finished second to Sangue Reale in the Mount Eden Sprint, third behind Mister Smartee in the Nullarbor slot race and second to Mister Smartee in the Fremantle Cup.
Minstrel’s driver Deni Roberts echoed the sentiments of most pacing aficionados when she said: “Magnificent Storm will be very hard to beat, and I think he will lead and win.”
Roberts is looking forward to driving the lightly-raced New Zealand-bred Justcallmemiki, the sole back-line runner in the $27,000 Book Your Event at Gloucester Park Pace over 2130m.
Justcallmemiki, trained by Greg and Skye Bond, will be making his first appearance since finishing last in the Nullarbor slot race on April 25, a disappointment after having won at his five previous starts at Gloucester Park after arriving in WA.
“It is exciting to have him back at the races, and his work this morning (Tuesday) was really good,” said his driver Deni Roberts. “He has options and should figure in the finish.”
The speedy Longreach Bay will start from barrier five and is capable of setting a fast pace which would suit Justcallmemiki. Louie Dior (barrier one) and Blitzembye (two) are also fast starters.
