Storm Cloud to thunder around Shepparton

Storm Cloud steps out at Shepparton on Saturday night and the exciting five-year-old will be out to maintain a higher than 50 per cent winning record.

The son of power producer Cloud Chaser has won six from 11 starts thus far with a 2:00.1 best mile rate to date.

Purchased for $36,000 as ‘lucky for some’ Lot 13 in the 2016 Australasian Premier Trotting Sale (APTS), the son of Majestic Son has already pocketed connections $32,514 in stakemoney.

Should Storm Cloud and young reinsman Brad Chisholm trot to victory in the Your Sold Real Estate Trot (Race 9) on Saturday, the $5700 first prize cheque will push the trotter into the black.

Since joining the powerful Brent Lilley stable Storm Cloud has only tasted defeat once in five starts – that loss coming last time out at Ballarat when fresh-up off a month’s break.

Storm Cloud has dominated some talented squaregaiters along the way, too, including Is That A Bid, Royal Charlotte, Powderkeg, Barhoon and Kyvalley Kyrie who have all been left in his wake during recent months.

Storm Cloud is the third foal of eight-time winning mare Cloud Chaser, who threw dual Group 1 winner Cruisin Around in 2011.

To win on Saturday night Storm Cloud will have to outpunch phenom Cracker Jet, a winner of four out of seven to date, and a small but select filed of flair, which also features Zarem – a graduate of the 2017 APTS.

Zarem fetched a bargain $9000 as Lot 63 but has won $54,180 in stakes.

Meanwhile, Saturday night’s win of Hotjane Bling at Menangle took the Eilean Donon mare to No.10 on the overall APTS graduates’ earning chart.

Trained and driven by Brian Portelli, Hotjane Bling’s career tally stands at $112,970 with 13 wins from 60 starts.

Hotjane Bling was purchased for a meagre $9000 at the 2015 APTS.

The most recent victory sets the scene for a cracking contest this Saturday night at Menangle where the new No.10 APTS earner will take on the trotter immediately above her on the earners’ list, Agent Maori.

APTS graduates in action in coming days are:

Wednesday August 12

• TIP TOP EURASIAN @ STAWELL (Race 3)
• KYVALLEY CATWALK @ STAWELL (Race 3)
• ALDEBARAN ROCKY @ STAWELL (Race 3)
• BACARDI CHARDY @ STAWELL (Race 3)
• DICKO DIXON @ STAWELL (Race 3)

Thursday August 13

• RULES DONT APPLY @ BALLARAT (Race 1)
• KEAYANG LIVANA @ BALLARAT (Race 2)
• FEAR NOT @ BALLARAT (Race 2)
• GUS AN MAORI @ BALLARAT (Race 2)
• THE GIRLS GOTFLAIR @ BALLARAT (Race 7)

Friday August 14

• JADE NIEN @ TABCORP PARK MELTON (Race 1)
• CAPTAIN MCCRAW @ TABCORP PARK MELTON (Race 1)
• ALDEBARAN STEVIE @ TABCORP PARK MELTON (Race 1)

Saturday August 15

• GREG THE GREAT @ ALBION PARK (Race 10)
• AGENT MAORI @ TABCORP PARK MENANGLE (Race 7)
• HOTJANE BLING @ TABCORP PARK MENANGLE (Race 7)
• MARVELLOUS MAX @ SHEPPARTON (Race 6)
• STORM CLOUD @ SHEPPARTON (Race 9)
• ZAREM @ SHEPPARTON (Race 9)

Visit the new-look APTS website for more information on the annual APTS sale, including Harness Racing Victoria's special 'sales day special', which sees yearlings purchased eligible for the industry leading Vicbred program, the Need for Speed series and the Breeders Crown for just $1000 – a saving of over $500.

Earlier this year the Victorian Harness Racing Club announced it had signed a partnership with the APTS and Australian Pacing Gold which will deliver up to $900,000 in financial benefits shared between owners and trainers of APTS purchases.

HRV – Cody Winnell