3 minute read

Trojan Storm has long been one of trainer Cameron Thompson’s favourites and he regards the seven-year-old sprinter as one of his best winning chances in Devonport on Sunday.

In Brief

• Kohima takes strong trial form into first-up assignment on Sunday.
• Needarein has chance to break maiden status.
• Trojan Storm ready to show best says trainer.

 The gelding hasn't been far away at his past two starts, and Thompson says the gelding is ready to show his best.

"I can't fault this horse in his work and fitness, so provided he gets the charmed run from a good gate (2) I expect him to be hard to beat at odds.

Cameron Thompson has an elevated opinion of his lightly raced three-year-old Kohima and he is hoping the gelded son of Kuroshio can add to his solid record when he takes on a handy field in the Thai Imperial Benchmark 66 handicap over 1009 metres on Sunday.

Kohima hasn't started since finishing fourth to Rhyme Writer in a BM60 on the synthetic on Devonport Cup Day in January, and he goes into this assignment with wins in two trials, the latest in Devonport.

"Kohima is yet to win first-up but his trial form is good, and the horse has done enough work to be very competitive on Sunday," Thompson said.

"He is up in grade now and comes up against some quality horses in this race, but he has drawn well (5), and I can imagine him being handily placed because he has good, natural speed and he is fit enough to run out the 1009m nice and strong."

Needarein showed improvement for an eye-catching second at his first run for over three months in Devonport three weeks ago and the gelding's work has since been encouraging. The four-year-old gelding will run in the fourth race of the day, the Leaping Goat Coffee Maiden over 1150m.

"Needarein should not still be a maiden, but his racing manners have let him down.

"I've made a significant gear change by placing a nose roll on him and it has made some difference to his concentration level and if he takes his first-up form into Sunday's race I expect him to finally break his maiden status."