Cambridge trainer John Bell is happy to bide his time before he introduces Storming The Tower to a new role on race day.
He has been extensively schooling the seven-year-old, who has showed a natural aptitude for the jumping game, but the gelding’s flat form is likely to delay his hurdle debut for the foreseeable future.
That was his first success in more than two years, not that Bell was unduly concerned.
“He’s run a lot of seconds, thirds and fourths in Group and other races so he does deserve this,” he said.“Rotorua can be a tricky track so he’s done well to handle it. He’ll be going for his hurdle ticket at some stage, but he does need a break as well so we’ll see what happens.”
Storming The Tower was in touch with the leaders throughout the 2200 metre contest and he dug deep in the straight under Vinnie Colgan, who was deputising for the suspended Leith Innes, to post the sixth win of his career.“It’s a bit disappointing Leith wasn’t on him because he’s done a lot of the work, but Vinnie had him relaxed down the back and put him to sleep - he did a fantastic job on him,” Bell said.
In a driving finish, Storming The Tower beat Gentil Tonton and the brave topweight Authentic Paddy who gave the winner and the runner-up six and a half and seven and a half kilos respectively.
