3 minute read
It could be a case of third time lucky for Magnificent Storm when he attempts to snap his WA Pacing Cup hoodoo at Gloucester on Friday night.
The top-class Ray Williams-trained pacer has finished fourth in the last two runnings of the Group 1 feature but comes into tonight's race as a deserving favourite on the back of strong form.
Magnificent Storm has returned to his best this time in, missing narrowly from a wide barrier first up before leading to score a 2.7m win in the Group 3 Navy Cup last time.
He races very well third up with four wins and two placings from six attempts so should be peaking and is drawn to be prominent so looks the one to beat.
The low draw is the key to the chances of Jumpingjackmac who presents as the main danger.
He was far from disgraced when midfield in the Group 2 JP Stratton Cup last start after racing wide from the back row but led to win at this circuit two back.
He'll be able to go forward from this draw so is a winning chance.
Diego relished a better draw when beating Jumpingjackmac to win the Stratton Cup last time.
He won this race from the ace draw the last time it was run in January this year and is drawn to be in the finish again.
Loyalist is building in fitness following two starts since a spell and the inside barrier brings him right into contention while Tenzing Bromac draws a bit wide but is going really well so deserves respect.
The marble has fallen perfectly for top-class mare Wonderful To Fly in the night's other feature, the Group 2 Norms Daughter Classic.
Wonderful To Fly continued her run of top-two finishes and returned to the winners' list when leading from wider to score by more than 4m here last time.
She has been freshened since but she has the gate speed to take full advantage of the ace draw so will be very hard to catch.
Leap To Fame will have his final hitout for next month's Inter Dominion series in the Group 2 Queensland Cup at Albion Park on Saturday night and a front row draw gives him every chance to return to his winning ways.
Nothing went right for Leap To Fame from the back line when locked away last week but he did find the line well when clear.
He is suited up to a distance where he has won six of eight attempts so must go on top.
Blacksadance was good when placed from a wide draw in last week's Listed Be Good Johnny Sprint. He led to win here two back so expect him to be prominent from the low draw.
Progressive pacer Future Assured extended his winning streak for four in the Be Good Johnny. It's a tougher task from the back row but winning form must be respected.
Top local mare Uptown Beachgirl will be hard to stop in the night's other feature, the Group 3 Forever Gold Mares Open.
She showed her class with a resuming win last week, racing wide early before working to the front and going on to score by 6.5m.
Uptown Beachgirl draws a couple of spots lower and strikes at 50 per cent when second-up so should be improved.
The main danger is Anna Love who heads north in good form having come from the back row when scoring two back at Bathurst before drawing wide when going under by a head at Menangle last week. The ace draw should give her every chance.
