Magnificent Storm Ready for QLD Test

Photo by Hamilton Content Creators.

MAGNIFICENT Storm has been a big fish in a little pond, but all that changes at Albion Park tomorrow night.

WA’s best pacer boasts a remarkable 32 wins from just 50 starts, but this is first trip away from  home to take on some of the best horses in the land.

And it will come down as much to luck as his talent from an awkward inside back row draw (gate eight) in the Group 3 Mr Feelgood Pace (1660m).

Despite the draw, he is the best-backed runner, firming from $5 into

$4.20 second favourite, behind the proven Group 1 performer but now enigmatic Expensive Ego (gate five, $2.40).

“It’s exciting but I’m also a bit nervous,” veteran trainer Ray Williams said. “This trip away has been a long time coming and he deserves his chance against the best.

“We think he’s a bit special and, most importantly, we think he’s at the top of his game at the right time.”

Although Williams would love to kick-start the three-race Queensland raid with a win, he is more focused on Magnificent Storm just running up to his best.

“He doesn’t have to win for us to be happy, especially from that draw,” he said.

“We deliberately came across early so we could have this race before his two major targets.”

They are Saturday week’s $200,000 Group 1 Sunshine Sprint and the

$400,000 Group 1 Blacks A Fake on July 22. Both races are also at Albion Park.

“We’ve got him right where we want him. He’s had a terrific build-up back home,” Williams said.

Magnificent Storm four races on end before coming off a daunting 60m handicap when a monstrous second at Gloucester Park on June 23.

“He’s been here more than a week and has settled in well, which was the biggest thing for me. I glad the flight got moved forward a week earlier than planned,” Williams said.

“It’ll be great to get this run under his belt, give him some experience around the track in a race and get a line on exactly where he’s at before the two big races.”

Magnificent Storm adds another dimension to an already stellar Albion Park meeting where Australia’s most exciting pacer, Leap To Fame, is a commanding $1.40 favourite in the $350,000 Group 1 Rising Sun.

Leap To Fame is headed towards a clash with Magnificent Storm and other big names in the Blacks A Fake.

·       Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.