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Variety is likely to be the spice of Storming The Tower’s life this winter with a new direction planned for the stayer.
The seven-year-old made a long overdue return to winning form on Saturday when he posted a gritty victory in the Drymix Cement Bay of Plenty Cup on a heavy Tauranga track.
Storming The Tower hadn’t won a race for more than three years, although he had raced well in decent company between times to place in the Gr.2 City of Auckland Cup (twice), the Gr.3 Waikato Cup, the Listed Taumarunui Gold Cup and the Gr.3 Taranaki Cup.Bell said the Hawke’s Bay Gold Cup and the Rotorua Cup were possible future targets with the intention of mixing flat and jumping assignments.
“We might slip in the odd brush hurdle. He jumps magnificently and one day that will be his go.”While Storming The Tower had been unplaced in the Gr.1 Auckland Cup at his previous appearance, he had finished only six lengths from the winner.
“Unfortunately, he got back and four wide and he was no show from there,” Bell said.On a wet Tauranga track, Storming The Tower was able to sit much closer for rider Leith Innes and they led 250 metres from home and stuck on too well for last year’s winner Seconds Out and Dubai Shuffle.
“To be honest they walked early and he was able to relax and Leith got him into his rhythm,” Bell said. “When he was challenged he really put in.”Storming The Tower’s promising stablemate Enough was scratched from Saturday’s Gr.2 Japan/NZ International Trophy, although there is nothing amiss with the four-year-old.
“He’s going to Ellerslie next Saturday for a Rating 75 mile and if he goes nicely in that he might get a start in the Easter,” Bell said.