Breaks go for Storm
OUTSIDER Leprechaun Storm will be out to prove critics wrong by qualifying for next week’s $600,000 Melbourne Cup in tomorrow night’s final heat at Sandown Park.
Little River trainer Paul Bartolo says his rising star has the class to overcome a competitive field to book her spot in the Group 1 final.
Leprechaun Storm has had four starts since overcoming a broken metacarpal, logging two impressive wins and two seconds to take her career earnings beyond $36,000 from 20 runs.
Bred by Paul and wife Dianne out of another one of their home beds Glamorous Keisha, she has always been highly rated by his experienced trainer.
You can tell that by her name.
The Bartolos used to own a dog named Leprechaun Miss, who became a Greyhound Racing Victoria hall of famer for her success as a brood matron.
Leprechaun Miss produced the likes of Jones Junior, who in turn sired another one of Bartolo’s stars, Chloe Jones.
“We had a bitch called Chloe Jones; she broke her front leg when she was 11 months old,” he said.
“We took her to the vets to put her down and the vet said, ‘We can fix this, Paul.’
“She ended up being a city dog and one of the best brood bitches in Australia, so I thought this is an omen when Glamorous Keisha broke her hock.”
Glamorous Keisha, also sired by Jones Junior, broke her hock at 11 months old as well, but Bartolo had always pencilled her in for a breeding career.
Leprechaun Storm might be the best of her progeny, as he tries to win the Melbourne Cup he last claimed in 2006 with champion Betty’s Angel.
“It is a tough heat, but she’s a very good bitch,” Bartolo said of Leprechaun Storm.
“She’s normally real quick early; I think she’ll be hard to beat if she can get to the front.
“She’s always shown she’s got a lot of ability.”