It is all plain sailing for superstar pacer Magnificent Storm, who is warming up for a tilt at the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup on December 12 in commanding fashion.
He was not threatened at any stage as he crushed his six rivals in the $31,000 Barbagallo Aston Martin Free-For-All over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
From the No. 1 barrier and as a hot $1.04 favourite, Magnificent Storm ambled through the lead time in a slow 38.6sec. and the opening quarter in 30sec. before Aiden De Campo increased the tempo and the eight-year-old sprinted over the final three 400m sections in 28.3sec., 28sec. and 27.4sec.
Magnificent Storm strolled to victory at a 1.55.1 rate and beat the $15 second favourite Swingband by three and a half lengths to boost his record to 67 starts for 41 wins, 12 placings and stakes of $1,224,117.
“This was the first time for six weeks that he has had the hopples on,” said trainer Ray Williams. “He is a tough horse, and I just gallop him up the hill at home.
“If he pulls up okay, he will run in the $100,000 Brennan Memorial next Friday night, and his following run will be in the $100,000 Stratton Cup a fortnight later. And if he needs it, he could run in the $50,000 Navy Cup a week before the Pacing Cup.
“To run those times tonight was very pleasing. After the Pacing Cup he will have a break before preparing for the Nullarbor and Fremantle Cup.”
Magnificent Storm’s win completed a double for De Campo, who had been successful earlier in the night with $16.80 chance Rockandrollartist, who was last at the bell before charging home to beat the fast-finishing Sweet Lucifer ($34) and Hillview Bondi ($11).
