The much-anticipated clash between WA’s current two millionaire pacers Magnificent Storm and Mighty Ronaldo in the $50,000 Channel Seven August Cup over 2536m at Gloucester Park on Friday night promises to produce much exciting action and a thrilling tactical battle.
The star pacers have met ten times, with eight-year-old Magnificent Storm holding the edge, having finished ahead of seven-year-old Mighty Ronaldo on seven occasions.
Mighty Ronaldo’s driver Gary Hall jnr has won the August Cup six times, while Magnificent Storm will be handled by Aiden De Campo, who is seeking to win the August Cup for the first time after having contested this event seven times for two thirds --- with Tricky Styx in 2018 and Handsandwheels in 2020.
Neither Hall nor De Campo will be underestimating the other’s winning prospects, with De Campo saying: “It’s a good race, and we’ll just see what happens.”
Mighty Ronaldo will start out wide at barrier No. 8, giving the Justin Prentice-trained gelding an initial advantage over Magnificent Storm, who will begin from the outside (No. 9) on the front line.
Mighty Ronaldo is a brilliant sit-sprinter who also possesses sparkling gate speed. He began from the No. 2 barrier when Hall drove him to victory over Prince Of Pleasure in the 2023 August Cup. He began from barrier two and Hall dashed him to the front after 350m.
This gave Prentice his second success in the August Cup. He drove 7/1 chance Village Hero to an easy victory over Trial By Jury and Tealsby Karita in 2007.
Magnificent Storm, trained by Ray Williams, and Mighty Ronaldo boast wonderful records at Gloucester Park, with Magnificent Storm having raced at the track 50 times for 31 wins, six seconds, four thirds and four fourths, while Mighty Ronaldo’s track record stands at 60 starts for 14 wins, eight seconds, nine thirds and four fourths.
Williams has yet to win an August Cup. He went close in 2012 when Cromac Johnny (22/1) surged home from ninth at the bell to finish a neck second to Dasher VC.
Magnificent Storm warmed up for Friday night’s Cup with a dashing display when he was first out from barrier three and set a brisk pace before sprinting home brilliantly with final 400m sections of 27.9sec. and 27.4sec. and wining by just under two lengths from Lusaka, who was beaten out from the No. 1 barrier and then trailed the frontrunning Magnificent Storm all the way. The winner rated 1.55.2 over the 2130m.
Mighty Ronaldo was equally as impressive last Friday night, rating 1.55.4 over 2130m when he was restrained to the rear from barrier seven and charged home from seventh at the bell to win by a neck from the gallant breeze horse Arma Xfactor after final quarters of 27.8sec. and 28.6sec.
The powerful Greg and Skye Bond stable has high hopes of winning the August Cup for the fifth time --- after wins with Mister Odds On (2009), Vampiro (2019 and 2021) and Aardiebytheseaside (2024). The Bonds will be represented by five-year-old Lusaka, who will be driven by Deni Roberts.
Roberts handled Aardiebytheseaside, the $1.20 favourite from the No. 1 barrier, when she set the pace and beat Talks Up A Storm and Sangue Reale.
“Barrier two is a good draw for Lusaka,” said Roberts, who is hoping to set the pace and make life tough for Magnificent Storm and Mighty Ronaldo.
“Little Darling has drawn one, and I think she had her chance last week to lead and win (when third behind Mighty Ronaldo and Arma Xfactor). And I think that with the depth of the field this week she might be forced to take a sit. So, we will be coming out hard.”
The Colin Brown-trained Arma Xfactor raced without cover and fought on determinedly when a close second to Mighty Ronaldo last week, and he is capable of a spirited effort from barrier five, while the Prentice-trained Rolling Fire (Trent Wheeler) will begin from the No. 6 barrier and will have admirers, following his excellent performance when an unlucky fifth behind Mighty Ronaldo last Friday night when he was hopelessly blocked for a clear passage.
By Ken Casellas