Fremantle Cup: Star pacer Magnificent Storm temporarily stood down on welfare grounds

Star pacer Magnificent Storm is temporarily stood down from racing on welfare grounds after detection he bled internally when brilliantly winning Friday night’s $300,000 Fremantle Cup at Gloucester Park. Racing WA chief steward Brad Lewis has ruled the New Zealand-bred gelding, with 48 wins and earnings of $1.8 million, must run satisfactorily in an official barrier trial before he is cleared to race again. “Magnificent Storm was found to have blood in his right nostril when veterinarian Dr Judith Medd conducted a post race examination,” Lewis said on Saturday. “Under rules, he can not race until trialling well and pulling up good.” Managing owner Rob Tomlinson is adamant the Ray Williams-trained Magnificent Storm has no ill-effects from his cup win. “He’s really well today and I was surprised by the report he’s bled,” Tomlinson said on Saturday. “Magnificent Storm will tomorrow begin a spell at my property. We’re confident he’ll later make a successful racing return.” Magnificent Storm will be set for the Gloucester Park spring carnival’s $450,000 WA Pacing Cup, which he won in 2023, before two career disruptions. He underwent surgery after being hit by a severe knee infection in 2024 and was out of racing for 15 months. Last year, Magnificent Storm faced four months on the sidelines when he knocked a leg, causing serious bone bruising. Magnificent Storm’s regular reinsman Aiden De Campo, who drove the gelding in his Fremantle Cup win, had celebrations soured when he copped 12 days’ suspension for careless driving in a later race. Stewards said De Campo, who leads the WA race drivers’ premiership by 17 wins, caused interference to Miss Leopatra when he allowed Amalfi Knight to shift out about 50m from the Caduceus Club Classic finish. Amalfi Knight ran second behind Wake Up Geoff and Miss Leopatra was fourth. An inquiry has been adjourned into why Chris Voak’s drive Justasmooth Miki broke gait near the Caduceus Club Classic’s home turn. Voak, Kyle Symington (who drove Chugach) and Gary Hall Jr (Gentlemans Promise) were asked to attend the adjournment. Meanwhile, TAB fixed odds has installed champion pacer Leap To Fame at $1.65 favouritism for the Inter Dominion Final in Brisbane on July 18. The Janitor ($4), Swayzee ($4.60) and Minstrel ($12) are next in betting. Dual WA Pacing Cup winner Minstrel was scratched from Friday night’s Fremantle Cup when found to have a hoof abscess. Leading Sydney trainer-reinsman Luke McCarthy said he would start Don Hugo in the Inters. McCarthy has set former WA winner Steno for Brisbane winter carnival mares’ feature events.