Highly anticipated Aussie debut for Maher import | Just horse racing

More than twelve months in the making, but the connections of Ciaron Maher-trained importer Midnite Storm are ready to finally see the whole thing in action in Australia.

The son of Night Of Thunder will compete in the $80,000 National Jockeys Trust BM70 Trophy (1600m) at Saturday’s Flemington meeting.

He is five years old according to Australian time and has not started since finishing unseeded in the 2414 meters at Goodwood in England in July 2024 and accepted the 1400 meters that Botanical Boy won in Geelong last week but was retained for Flemington.

Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said the team felt the extra 200 meters of this week’s race was more appropriate.

“More the distance, a mile, and the bigger track,” Turnbull said of why Flemington won.

“We left the track (in Geelong) not really liking the shape of the race.

“An extra canter goes a long way, he’s a bull, and that will only tighten him up.”

Midnite Storm broke his first over 2011 meters at Redcar in his penultimate European start, which followed five successive minor placings at distances ranging from 1408 meters to 2112 metres.

He had one trial at the end of his first Aussie prep last February and has had three jumpouts this season, the latest a third place over 1200m at Cranbourne on December 22.

“He is a progressive keeper of the future,” Turnbull said.

“He has a pretty intact handicap of 66 and I imagine he will be one of those off-season keepers who just blasts through the handicap system.

“Hopefully we can try to raise his profile before, possibly, a spring campaign.”

Irish jockey Robert Whearty will make his first ride at Flemington aboard Midnite Storm in the National Jockeys Trust BM70 Trophy, with the $10 chance to start from barrier seven.

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