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Not many punters rallied behind Laser Storm on Sunday, but his in-form jockey Danny Beasley proved to be right on the money in his pre-race evaluation of his winning chances.
Even if Laser Storm had been a bit of a morning glory lately, the Australian rider was convinced the drop to an easier race would unlock his winning flair again.
If the Warplan Racing Stable-owned eight-time winner (two of them recorded with him up) did not score, he still believed he would be right in the thick of the action when the whips are cracking in the $100,000 Open Benchmark 83 race over 1200m.
He was spot-on.
After dropping to the rear from his wide alley, the son of Lucky Owners began a searching run from the 600m, before rushing home at the eleventh hour to land the spoils by a head from Constant Justice (Manoel Nunes). Darci Charmer (Glen Boss) looked half a chance at the 300m, but again peaked on his run to settle for third place, one length off Constant Justice.
The winning time was 1min 11.22secs for the 1200m on the Polytrack.
Laser Storm’s odds of $40 probably summed up Beasley’s level of confidence as well, but he did admit to thinking he might have erred when Laser Storm hit a bit of a speed bump midrace.
But once he peeled him to the outside of the 12-horse field, the six-year-old began to muster speed again, finishing with a flourish to outmuscle Constant Justice right where it mattered.
“He shows so much in the morning but doesn’t bring that form to the races. He’s lost his form a little, but Bruce has been able to turn him around today,” said Beasley who was bringing up win No 21 as he stays in touch with current leader Vlad Duric on 28 winners (he later took the score to 22 when he won the last race with My Horse).
“I think the conditions of the race suited him. He was down in class like last time, but he had a nice weight (56.5kgs compared to 59kgs) this time.
“But he’s a horse who doesn’t like to run between runners. I tried to take a run behind Darci Charmer at the 800m, but he wouldn’t go.
“It’s only when I took him around him and he had plenty of room on the outside that he started to quicken up. I’ve won twice on him and he’s always won that way, by coming right on the outside.
“Just like the way he got there in time at his last start to dead-heat with Super Winner, he just seems to know where the line is.”
Marsh was delighted that Laser Storm had bounced back to form to hand the Ong family a ninth win, but said he had not mapped out any plans for him.
“It was a great run. He settled very well at the back and flew home,” said the Kiwi handler who also prepares champion galloper War Affair for the same family.
“On his last run, I thought he had a chance. He ran on well for a fourth place (to Alibi) in a much stronger race.
“I don’t have anything planned for him, just find another nice race for him. We’ve had some tight finishes lately, and it’s good to have a bit of luck.”
Marsh, who finished in the bottom tier last year on 19 wins, was referring to his recent good trot where he came out on tops in close photo finishes in some of them, for example Supernova last Friday and Billy Mojo a little earlier. Laser Storm was bringing up his ninth win for the season.