by Trent Masenhelder/TTR AusNZ
Confirmed after speculation last month, outstanding 2-year-old Storm Boy (Aus) (Justify–Pelican {NZ}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) has been purchased by Coolmore for an undisclosed sum and will remain in training with Tulloch Lodge trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
Storm Boy has developed a huge reputation during his fledgling career, posting three wins from as many starts, and he is all the rage for the world's richest race for juveniles, the Mar. 23 G1 Golden Slipper S., which Coolmore won last year with Shinzo (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}).
Following two impressive trial victories, Storm Boy saluted by 2.28l on debut at Rosehill in early December, before scoring a 2.4l triumph in the G3 BJ McLachlan S. at Eagle Farm three weeks later. The colt was sent out a warm favourite for the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast on Jan. 13, and, after a sluggish getaway and doing some work early, he dashed away from his rivals to notch a stunning 2.5l victory (video).
Storm Boy clocked 1:08.00 for the 1200-metre Millions journey, which was quicker than the time the 5-year-old, Group 3-winning sprinter King Of Sparta (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) ran in winning the Magic Millions Snippets on the same program.
Coolmore Australia boss Tom Magnier said the acquisition of the exceptional colt is a huge coup.
“We are extremely excited to secure Storm Boy with a great group of clients and friends from all over the world. His performance in the Magic Millions had to be seen to be believed. He had to do the work at both ends and broke his opponents' hearts in a similar way to what Justify himself did in his own racing career,” Magnier said.
“We have had a close eye on this colt since his first trial and he has raised the bar each time he has been seen in public.”
Not only is Storm Boy a top-quality racehorse, he boasts a stallion's pedigree.
The colt is by Coolmore's shuttle star Justify, whose progeny have won 39 stakes, and he has six Group 1 winners to his credit. Storm Boy is out of Pelican, a two-time winner at two. She is a daughter of Fastnet Rock. He is one of Coolmore's all-time great stallions with 43 elite-company victories on his CV.
Pelican is a half-sister to the three-time scorer and Group 3 placegetter Divan (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}). The colt's granddam, Seachange (NZ) (Cape Cross {Ire}), was a superstar, chalking up 14 wins, half of them at the top level. She earned the titles of New Zealand Horse of the Year in 2006/07 and 2007/08 and Champion Sprinter in New Zealand in 2007/08.
Storm Boy was bred by Rob and Barbara McClure's Morning Rise Stud, along with Coolmore partners. He was foaled and raised at Coolmore, before it offered the colt at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The colt was knocked down to Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing/Kestrel Thoroughbreds for A$460,000.
“We want to be involved in Justify's best sons globally but given that Storm Boy was raised and grazed at Coolmore makes him even more special for us to be part of,” Magnier commented.
Enjoy the final 600m of the Magic Millions 2YO Classic from above! 👌🚁
Storm Boy just drops them at the 200m mark. 😮💨👋@mmsnippets @GaiWaterhouse1 pic.twitter.com/gd0A7X0B41
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) January 18, 2024
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