The eight-year-old Armbro Operative gelding, backed from 2/1 to favouritism at 6/4, looked a picture for Oakford trainer Ryan Bell, and Kade Howson drove aggressively to ensure victory.

The win was Hillview Storm's 14th from 89 starts and it took his earnings to $80,660 for Pemberton owners Giovanna, John, Stephen and Peter Bendotti.

Hillview Storm, who had a losing sequence of 12, started from the back line and Howson had no hesitation in dashing him forward, three wide, in the first circuit to move outside the pacemaker Pacific Fortune after a lap had been covered.

Hillview Storm took the lead 420m from home and easily held Please Release Me (Morgan Woodley) at bay. Im Light Hearted (Justin Prentice) eased from 7/4 to 5/2 and he began tardily from the No. 1 barrier and was six lengths behind the leader after 100m. Im Light Hearted then raced two back on the pegs before finishing solidly, out wide, into fourth place. Hillview Storm showed that further successes are certainly not beyond him by sprinting the final 800m in 57.5sec.

Ken Casellas