Aussie News - June 8

By Adam Hamilton

Star former Kiwi pacer Magnificent Storm continues to scare off his rivals in WA’s free-for-all ranks.

Not long back, his scheduled race was scrapped due to lack of entries.

Last week, Magnificent Storm thrashed his only four rivals.

And Friday night there are only three rivals left in the $A30,000 Members’ Sprint (1730m).

It should be another cakewalk for WA’s best pacer as he prepares for his first interstate trip when he heads to Brisbane early next month for three races, starting with the $50,000 Mr Feelgood at Albion Park on July 8.

Then comes the $200,000 Group 1 Sunshine Sprint on July 15 and the $400,000 Group 1 Blacks A Fake a week later.

“He was first-up for four weeks last week and Aiden (De Campo) said he felt great, but just blew out a bit at the finish,” trainer Ray Williams said.

“We’ll give this race and one more, probably on June 23, before he flies across to Brisbane on July 3.

“It’ll be a good foundation and we want to be there for the Mr Feelgood so he can have time to settle in a race before the main two targets.”

Williams confirmed De Campo, who controversially replaced Aldo Cortopassi as driver after Magnificent Storm’s defeat in the inaugural $A1mil Nullarbor on April 14, would do the driving in Brisbane.

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Last year’s NZ Cup runner-up and Messenger winner Majestic Cruiser continues his comeback at Menangle on Saturday night.

The Jason Grimson-trained star raced well below his best during last year’s Inter Dominion series and had a long spell.

Majestic Cruiser (gate nine) is one of four Grimson-trained runners in the $A30,600 Allied Express free-for-all (2300m) at Menangle.

The others are the exciting Major Meister (gate six), new stable addition Nerano (three) and Sicario (eight).

Importantly, stable driver Cam Hart is aboard Majestic Cruiser, while Will Rixon will drive Major Meister. Josh Gallagher is on Nerano and Jack Brown will partner Sicario.

The race will help decide which open-class pacers Grimson takes north for the Queensland features next month.

Majestic Cruiser won last year’s Blacks A Fake.

Grimson already has Nullarbor winner Betterzippit set for Queensland.

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Star Kiwi-owned mare Queen Elida drops back to racing her own sex in Saturday night’s Carlotta’s Pride free-for-all (1720m) at Melton.

Brent Lilley’s five-year-old will chase her sixth win from her past seven starts and the 24th from 42 career runs.

Although she will dominate betting, Queen Elida has the outside draw (six in a field of six) and faces talented and in-form mares in Amandine (gate one), Lady Adelia (three), Revelstoke (four) and Visionary (five).