Gr3 Cup Trial: Storming Home

July Storm - Super Storm thunders home

Several Vodacom July hopes were dashed in a slowish run Gr3 Cup Trial at Clairwood on Monday, but trainer Mike Bass came out smelling roses with a convincing 1-2.

There was little initiative early on in the race, with Bass-trained Hammie’s Boy a comfortable leader. He was followed by race favourite Galileo’s Destiny, who seemed to be fighting his jockey somewhat. The Australian import settled by halfway, when the pace had picked up, stretching the field out and giving notice to the backmarkers that they were going to be hard pressed to make up the ground lost early on. Super Storm raced comfortably in fifth position. Together with the two leaders, there were Mike de Kock’s Perana and Bass’ gelding Brown Penny who made up the head of the field.

Hammie’s Boy kept going in front until halfway up the straight, with Galileo’s Destiny making little impression despite strong urging from Marcus. Sudden Storm made his move on the standside, and was going so well that the commentator called him a winner with a furlong to go. This despite a strong effort from stable mate Brown Penny, who looked at one stage to make good on the support he’d received in the betting, from12/1 to 15/2. In the end Super Storm and Karl Neisius won a shade comfortably, with Brown Penny and Aldo Domeyer second, ahead of Galileo’s Destiny. Perana had dropped away tamely.

Noteworthy, given the slow early beginning of the race, was the effort of Cask, who came from well back and finished best of all. Talk about Storming Home! Stephen Page’s Fort Wood gelding has clearly come right and should make his mark on July day, whichever race he contests.

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Super Storm is owned and bred by Mike Rattray’s Lammerskraal Stud, and is from the final crop of Rakeen. The 4yo gelding has already shown to stay the July distance, with a nose second to Saluki in last season’s July consolation at Greyville. Perhaps he can make good in the Big One now that he’s a year older. Saluki, incidentally, finished well down the field today.

Super Storm’s dam Western Roll was a very useful sprinter, who won 4 times up to 1200m, rated MR 93. She’s half sister by Western Winter to highclass sprinter Best Mate (Best By Test) and from the English female line which also produced champion sprint filly Sunera.

The win was Super Storm’s fifth one from twenty starts and his second black-type effort this season following a second place in the Premier’s Trophy in December. He subsequently contested the Queens Plate, J&B Met and Drill Hall Stakes, without making the frame. His current earnings stand at a shade under half a million.

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