Storm Brewing in Black Top Decider

FRIDAY night's Group 2 Sires On Ice Black Top Final (515m) is looming as an absolute cracker after eight enthralling heats were run and won at Ladbrokes Gardens on a great program of racing action on Friday evening.

With the eight heat winners progressing through to this week's $40,000 to-the-winner finale, setting the pace for the showpiece event is the Jodie Lagogiane-trained Set To Storm, the daughter of Barcia Bale stopping the clock in the eighth and final qualifier in an electrifying 29.27.

The injury ravaged galloper, who qualified fastest for the 2017 Group 1 Peter Mosman Classic at Wentworth Park – running a staggering 29.63 in her semi-final romp – Set To Storm headed into Friday night's Black Top heats off a flying 30.67 Richmond victory and didn't disappoint her backers, posting flying sectionals (4.87/17.10) on way to her emphatic winning display.

The opening heat on Friday night was an upset result, with rank outsider Kiarni Velvet scoring for trainer Thomas Roche in a slick 29.51.

Only lightly raced, the daughter of Dyna Double One was sent out at odds upwards of 40/1, leading all-the-way to defeat another outsider Bad Neighbour by three-quarters-of-a-length.

The second qualifier went the way of Darren Sultana's Black Forge in a sizzling 29.36, the son of Fabregas defeating well-supported Queenslander Snug by a length.

In the third heat, Mark Davidson's My Gal Penny staved off a late surge by Modus Operandi to score by 1 ½ lengths in 29.61, while in qualifier four, local sprinter Hello Robbo showed her rivals a clean set of paws to lead all-the-way in 29.53 for Gary and Eileen Robertson.

It wouldn't be a feature race at Ladbrokes Gardens without Jason Mackay being represented and the leading Richmond Vale mentor will have two runners in the $40,000 to-the-winner final, with Zipping Tayla landing her heat in the last stride in 29.39, while in-form sprinter True Talent sprouted wings late to record a 29.46 victory in heat six.

The feel good victory of the night was without doubt the performance recorded by injury riddled chaser Patch Adam, returning from three months on the sidelines for a powerful 29.43 success, holding off the late surge of track record holder Zipping Bailey by three-quarters of a length.

Having faced the starter on just three occasions in the past 14 months, connections have done a wonderful job to guide the son of Black Magic Opal back to the track, and he'll be sure to carry plenty of public sentiment heading into this week's final.

The Group 2 Black Top has been The Gardens' signature race series since the track's inception in 2005, won in that year by Doreen Drynan's grand sprinter Buddy Rich.

2018 Group 2 Sires On Ice Black Top Final (Box Draw)

1. Zipping Tayla
2. Kiarni Velvet
3. True Talent
4. My Gal Penny
5. Patch Adam
6. Set To Storm
7. Hello Robbo
8. Black Forge
9. Caitlyn Keeping
10. Aston Duke