North West Coast owners Nathan Rockliff and Peter Webb celebrated one of their biggest wins in harness racing on Sunday night in Hobart when Poker Storm claimed the Top Of The Town Bakery New Norfolk Pacing Cup in slashing style.
The Trump Casino – Cameo Mist ten-year-old gelding also provided his career-long trainer-driver Adrian Duggan with a hometown Cup success story.
“It was a thrill to win the New Norfolk Cup, I’m from the Valley so it was very satisfying and to win for Peter and Nathan was even better, they are great owners and have been since they first asked me to take him as a two-year-old after he had been broken in by Brett Jaffray.”
Poker Storm (pictured – No.13) came off the 20-metre mark in the Cup and settled well back in the field before Adrian made his move approaching the bell, latching onto the back of Sheer Strength and grabbing a cart into the race.
As the Cup field turned for home Duggan pulled Poker Storm to the centre of the track and scorched home over the top of the gallant favourite Full Speed Ahead in the shadows of the post to win by a half-head.
“He’s won 19 races, run 38 placings and picked up $135,000 in prize money so he’s been a great money spinner for connections and the stable,” said Adrian.
“Storm is just a little below the top bracket, but he gives 110% every time he steps out on the track, he’s won an Ulverstone Cup and ran third in the Devonport Cup,” Adrian remembered fondly.
“There’s no doubt one of his biggest runs was when he ran fourth in the Maxfield Drilling Raider Stakes when Quastor Centurion and Beautide fought out a memorable finish, I couldn’t get a run in the straight and we only finished 4.5-metres from the two stars.”
Shane Yates