True Storm has been placed to perfection by Jim Taylor and he is scanning the calendar looking for another suitable race at Ascot.
Taylor claimed the Hurricane Sky mare is a pleasure to train after she won the Keys Bros Solutions Hcp (1200m) on Saturday. “She always gives her best and is always in the money,” he said. “I hope they don’t penalise her too many points – she only won by a half-head – there’s sure to be a nice mares race for her coming up.”
True Storm (4m Hurricane Sky – True Bloom by Is It True) is a homebred for Scenic Lodge owner David Smith and she received the run of the race under apprentice Ellie Cockram. “It was a top ride and her claim helped,” Taylor added. “She gave the mare every chance one out and one back.”
Cockram angled the winner into the clear at the top of the straight and, after bumping Grey Chevel, she balanced up and went after Ziva Star. After hauling in the leader, Cockram lifted True Storm over the line to defeat fast closer Darlington Abbey.
The runner-up is a Scenic Lodge graduate who won last year’s Perth Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
True Storm is by retired Scenic Lodge stallion Hurricane Sky and another talent from that same crop is Fiddlers Elbow who has won his last four in a row at Ascot.
Hurricane Sky’s three year-olds includes unbeaten filly Wild Stratus and there are 10 foals from his final book that are now two year-olds.
True Storm is a half-sister to Group performed mare Mendicity (Blackfriars). They descend from a female line developed by Hunter Valley vet Murray Bain that rose to prominence in the 1960s with the brilliant juvenile fillies Obelia (AJC Keith Mackay Hcp), Tod Maid (STC Silver Slipper Stakes) and Little Gum Nut (AJC Fernhill Hcp).
Coral Park studmaster Glenn Money tapped into the family to breed numerous winners including top-class sprinter Bradson (Beau Sovereign). He won 7 stakes races to Group 2 level in the WA Guineas, Lee-Steere Stakes and Winterbottom Stakes between 1995 and 1998.
Karl Patterson