Clear skies for Stormy Elect’s victory

Posted on Posted in News

On a beautiful Winter’s day at home track Ballarat, STORMY ELECT won her maiden race in convincing fashion.

This filly by Australian Guineas winner and now deceased NZ sire FERLAX, was bred by Jonathan Munz’s GSA Bloodstock and raced under his Pinecliff Racing banner. We thank Jonathan and Pinecliff’s Manager Rod Douglas for the opportunity to train their filly, and congratulate them on her maiden win at her fifth start.

Stormy Elect 20190722 Winner

Stormy Elect took much of her two and three-year-old seasons to develop physically and mentally. She has certainly shown talent throughout this time, and the patience of Jonathan and Rod has allowed Nigel to educate and develop her in a traditional “stayer of the future” process.

Following a couple of education preparations in 2018, Stormy Elect debuted in April of this year with a nice 5th at Ballarat. At her next start, Nigel stepped her up to 2025m at Cranbourne where she ran on strongly for a third placing.

However, she showed immaturity by race too fiercely at Swan Hill one day, leading and then fading into third. This prompted a return to tactics to help her settle again, with the aid of senior rider Dwayne Dunn. Although beaten by a few lengths, she ran on soundly for a second placing which gave connections confidence that she is learning each time she steps out.

Linda Meech took the ride at Sportsbet-Ballarat, with Dwayne not riding on the card. Linda has been an outstanding rider for many years now, and her composure in Stormy Elect’s race was the difference between winning and placing. Posted in an awkward position rounding the first turn after having to check off the heels of another horse shifting in, Stormy Elect found herself three wide without cover. But rather than panic, Linda allowed Stormy Elect to stride forward and be comfortably placed outside the leader on the back straight.

From that position, and with the leader at long odds, she was always going to have to “do all the work” rounding the home corner and early into the straight. Stormy Elect rose to that challenge, and she fought off the closing runners comfortably to score by more than a length.

Stormy Elect is a half-sister to two very good gallopers. Firstly, BLIZZARD. He won nine races including a Group race in Hong Kong and also placed in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint. Secondly, FURORE. He progressed from a good Sydney 3yo campaign where he placed in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas, to winning the Hong Kong Derby and Hong Kong Classic Mile.

This is the same family as DANESTORM (G1 QTC Brisbane Cup and 2nd G1 SAJC Adelaide Cup), MR SNEAKY (five wins plus 3rd G1 MRC Rupert Clarke Stakes) and MR SO AND SO (three wins plus 2nd G2 MRC Autumn Stakes).

Being a grand-daughter of PENTIRE (sire of Ferlax), Stormy Choice is showing stamina much like some of her family members. Being so well-related, she is sure to have a good broodmare career ahead of her. But hopefully more wins over the mid and long distances before that time comes.

Watch the race replay on Racing.com