“Push on to Grafton”: Horse storms home to take South Cup

He almost didn’t line up for the start, but when he came round the corner, connections knew he was a winner

He almost wasn’t going to make the start of the South Grafton Cup following his last run, but when Glen Milligan saw horse Texas Storm round the bend for the main race, he knew he was on a winner.

The six-year-old gelding handled the heavy going to take out the Grafton Toyota South Grafton Cup over 1600m on Sunday.

Speaking after the race Milligan said the horse jumped in a perfect position, and said the ride opened up perfectly.

Ashley Morgan pushes Texas Storm on to win the 2021 South Grafton Cup for Bob Milligan

“He had the run of the race with good speed on and everything went to plan,” Milligan said.

“When he straightened up he was going to go the outside, and they shifted out so he got a beautiful run up the inside … and he was just too good.”

It is the sixth win for the horse that Milligan said had been in good form recently, though his last start at a tight Kempsey track had him concerned.

“It’s tight turning and he never handled it, and it was his eleventh run,” he said.

Ashley Morgan pushes Texas Storm on to win the 2021 South Grafton Cup for Bob Milligan

“I asked (jockey Ashley Morgan) whether we should spell him, and he said to forget it he went terrific – push onto Grafton where the bigger track will suit him.

“Ash has now ridden him five times and won three on him, and it was another great ride by him.”

The horse ate up the Heavy 9 track, now with five of his six wins on wet tracks, and Milligan said the wetter the better for him.

Ashley Morgan pushes Texas Storm on to win the 2021 South Grafton Cup for Bob Milligan. Photo: Trackside Photography.

While gaining ballot into the Grafton Cup, Milligan said the horse wouldn’t handle the longer distance, and would take him back to Taree to figure out where next.

“He’ll be a bit hard to place now, he’ll probably benchmark around 80, and he’ll have to go round these cup races now,” he said.

“We’ll weigh up our options and see how he pulls up … maybe it might be Newcastle, or Sydney.

“The prizemoney is very hand though,” he grinned with the trophy still at hand.

Scone trainer Stephen Jones’ hope Hit The Target chased on, but finished 1.5L adrift ridden by local jockey Leah Kilner.