Magnificent Storm is racing with youthful enthusiasm, and his reinsman Aiden De Campo declared that “the best is yet to come” after driving the New Zealand-bred eight-year-old to an effortless victory in the $35,000 Howard Porter Memorial over 2536m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Magnificent Storm, the $1.30 favourite, was untroubled to set the pace from the No. 1 barrier and he sped over the final three 400m sections in 28.7sec., 28.5sec. and 26.3sec. to win by a length from $26 chance Brickies Dream, who trailed the pacemaker all the way. Minstrel ($8.50) was third after racing in third place on the pegs, and Mister Smartee ($5.50) was fourth after racing without cover over the final 1300m.
“It was a bit of a stroll in the park,” said De Campo. “We got a picnic out in front in the first lap, and I just love how sharp he is, and he is probably more genuine than he has ever been. He is running through the line hard on the bridle and there is improvement to come.”
Magnificent Storm’s trainer Ray Williams was delighted with the way the gelding performed, saying: “It was three weeks since he’s had a run, and he did it so well and I’m very happy with him. We will head towards the WA Pacing Cup; that’s the main target.”
Williams plans to keep Magnificent Storm racing up to the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup on December 12. This will be Magnificent Storm’s fourth appearance in the Cup.
He finished fourth behind Wildwest in the Cup in February 2022, was fourth behind Diego in January 2023, and won from Jumpingjackmac and Minstrel in November 2023.
Magnificent Storm has amassed $1,188,517 in prizemoney from 39 wins and 12 placings from 65 starts.
Dylan Egerton-Green, who has driven Magnificent Storm twice for two wins --- at Gloucester Park in December 2023 --- was to the fore on Friday night when he landed a double in successive races with Arionrock ($16) in the $9 Pints Every Friday Pace and Del Bocavista Bay ($17.40) in the Book Your Christmas Party Pace.
Arionrock, trained in Bunbury by Simone Strachan, surged home, out wide, from ninth at the bell to win by a neck from Shes A Tiny Dancer ($18), with the $1.55 favourite Sweet Pins an unlucky half-head away in the third place.
A smart getaway from the inside of the front line in a 2503m standing-start event paved the way for Del Bocavista Bay’s all-the way success. He held on to beat Our Vinnie ($31) by a metre, with the 40m backmarker and $2.25 favourite Bluto finishing strongly from tenth at the bell to be an eye-catching third.
