Magnificent Storm lives up to his name

By Adam Hamilton

Magnificent by name and Magnificent by nature. That’s the only way to describe the stunning performance by Magnificent Storm at Gloucester Park yesterday (Friday).

He definitively stamped himself as the most exciting pacer in Australia and quite possibly this part of the world.

To sit parked and thrash the immensely exciting Minstrel was something to behold.

Magnificent Storm took his record to 16 wins from 18 starts when he cruised past Minstrel at the top of the straight and had the audacity to prick his ears over the last 30m as he cruised to a 7.1m win in the Group 3 York Cup.

They went a slick 1min55sec mile rate for the 2130m trip and powered home in 56.3 and 28.6sec.

It was some early redemption for the Magnificent Storm team after Minstrel beat him when they last clashed in the Group 1 Golden Nugget back in February.

“I’m pretty excited after that,” trainer Ray Williams said. “To come out and do that is pretty special.

“Everyone said he’s fast, but he’s not just a speed horse. He’s pretty tough, too. And he showed that today.”

Williams ruled-out a late charge towards next month’s Group 1 Victoria Cup at Melton.

“There’s no point talking about Melbourne, it’s just too hard with COVID,” he said.

“He’ll have another couple of runs now and then a short freshen-up before we get him ready for the big races here.”

The big two are the Fremantle and WA Pacing Cups in January.

Magnificent Storm had one NZ start for Todd Macfarlane for a ninth at Alexandra Park on October 25, 2019.

The four-year-old won his first 12 starts for Williams before that second to Minstrel in the Golden Nugget.

He’s returned from a five-month break with four sparkling wins from as many starts this campaign.