As far as imports go, Ventura Storm (IRE) would rate highly on his overseas form with a Group 1 win in Italy and a Group 1 second in the historic St Leger at Doncaster, yet it took 17 starts to break his maiden in Australia, which came in Saturday's Group II Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m).
To be fair to the 6yo son of the former Coolmore shuttler Zoffany (IRE) he rarely races outside of elite company having contested the likes of the Melbourne and Caulfield Cups, Makybe Diva Stakes, Tancred Stakes, Turnbull Stakes and Australia Cup.
Punters threw their support behind the Lindsay Park-trained gelding and they were rewarded when Mark Zahra guided him to a long neck win from Trap For Fools (Poet's Voice) with Libran (IRE) (Lawman) three-quarters of a length away third. (photo Grant Courtney)
"He got a perfect ride, he's been gelded and he's had a wind operation and he is going to win plenty of races now that we have worked him out," co-trainer David Hayes said.
"Finally, he's won but he has run three very good races along the way, two at Group 1 level and beaten in a $500,000 race by an inch."
The Melbourne Cup is next up for Ventura Storm who is eligible for a penalty following his win.
A 110,000gns purchase at the 2015 Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale, Ventura Storm advances his record to 7 wins 3 seconds and 2 thirds from 29 starts with earnings of $1,467,425.
He is the best of two winners from three to race out of the Haafhd mare Sarawati who is a half-sister to Listed winner and multiple Group II placed Sahool (Unfuwain) and to the dam of Maraachel (Alzao) whose 8 wins included two runnings of the Group II Hardwicke Stakes while he placed in six Group 1's.
