Storm Boy announces himself as a star in the making at Rosehill

The highly promising son of Justify delivered on the potential he showed at trials with a devastating debut performance in the Kia Ora Prague 2YO Handicap (1100m).

Storm Boy blitzes them at Rosehill.

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s seamlessly endless production line of juveniles grew even stronger when smart colt Storm Boy announced himself as their latest autumn prospect at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The highly promising son of Justify delivered on the potential he showed at trials with a devastating debut performance in the Kia Ora Prague 2YO Handicap (1100m).

Waterhouse and Bott have now won four of the first five Saturday two-year-old races in Sydney this season with Shangri La Express (twice) and Espionage both winning.

Unbeaten Golden Gift winner Shangri La Express will be saved for the autumn but Storm Boy is likely to head to the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions in the New Year after his terrific debut.

Storm Boy was a cut above his opposition on debut and Bott was pleased to see Storm Boy bring his trial form to the races.

“We won’t get carried away with any sort of trial performance until we see it on raceday,” he said.

“It is difficult to get excited before you see it but off that performance we will get a take of confidence that he has proven what he has shown us at the trials.

“He has a lot of upside.”

Storm Boy is the first foal of Pelican, herself a winner at Morphettville Parks on debut with Jamie Kah in the saddle.

Storm Boy made it a one-act affair.

Two starts later, the Hayes trained galloper won a 1200m 2YO fillies handicap at Moonee Valley.

Pelican is a daughter of Fastnet Rock out of two-times New Zealand Horse of the Year, Seachange, who won 14 races, half of those at Group 1 level.

A member of USA Triple Crown winner Justify’s second Australian-crop, Storm Boy was knocked down at the 2023 Magic Millions Yearling sale for $460,000.

Storm Boy knocked off a fair portion of that price tag with a polished debut performance.

Storm Boy destroys them in the first at Rosehill. 🔥

Lot to like about this Justify colt! 👀@[e-mail]/odgZDrNLMQ

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) December 2, 2023

Jockey Tim Clark controlled proceedings from the outset on Storm Boy ($1.85 fav) before the colt stormed away stylishly in the straight to salute by 2-1/4 lengths from the James Cummings-trained Traffic Warden ($5) while Chris Waller’s Canara ($3.80) was a distant third.

“He’d shown everyone at the trials what sort of potential he has, and they obviously still have to come to the races and do it under that pressure,” Clark said.

“He stepped well, was able to control the race, he had his ears pricked and was waiting for company but then I thought he quickened up well when I asked him.

“He’s a big gross colt and riding him, he still feels a bit heavy so with a run or two I think it will really refine him.

Tim Clark had an easy ride.

“I think he will train on. He’s doing it now because he’s got so much talent.

Bott said the stable would potentially give Storm Boy one more run in Sydney towards the end of the month or look towards Queensland.

The Group 3 BJ McLachlan Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on the 23rd of December is among the options.

“For a stallion prospect like him there is that added prospect that there is something to aim towards,” Bott said.

“He is a serious colt going forward and I think he will get better with a bit of time too when he gets a bit of time to mature into the autumn.”

Storm Boy firmed from $26 into $17 with TAB for next year’s Golden Slipper where smart stablemate Shangri La Express is a firm $9 favourite.

Shangri La Express followed up his Kirkham Plate victory with another strong win in the Golden Gift and is set to return to the races in the new year.

“He is out in the paddock but will be back very shortly,” Bott said.

“He will head towards the autumn so he will skip Magic Millions.”

Shangri La Express was a $220,000 purchase at last year’s Magic Millions Sale.