Wagin trainer Angela Smith prepares Danehill Storm to win first-up at opening Great Southern meeting

Wagin trainer Angela Smith tasted success at Mt Barker Turf Club on Sunday when Danehill Storm returned to racing in winning fashion.

Smith made the trip to Mt Barker for the first meeting in the Great Southern racing season with four gallopers.

Danehill Storm had not been seen at the racetrack since May but Smith had the six-year-old gelding spot on for his first-up assignment in the Michelle Parsons Memorial Handicap (1100m), the final race of the day.

Apprentice Keshaw Dhurun was able to settle outside the leader in running before edging out Long Knife Brother by less than a length, while Athlone Castle was back in third place in a busy finish.

Smith said she was proud of Danehill Storm, who has run in the top three at half of his career starts and earned more than $60,000 in prize money.

“He’s a really nice horse, I think last campaign he ran three seconds in a row and then won so you can’t ask for much more really,” she said.

“He usually trials well first-up but this time I thought he could race and it paid off.

“I think he can go through the grades, he’s pretty late maturing and he’s a big type of horse.

“Just mentally he needed to mature a lot more.

“I train from Wagin so that’s his first time on the racetrack; I don’t go to any racetracks, I do all my work at home.”

Veteran galloper Corporate Larrikin, having his 86th start, ran fourth in the United Mt Barker Handicap (1000m) behind Potent Secret.

“What a run today, he is a 1600-2000m horse nowadays and to see the old fella run a 1000m today I nearly had a heart attack,” Smith said.

“He’s just been such a great horse for his owner over the years and what a thrill to race a horse for so many years and be so good.”

Smith tasted victory with Danehill Storm’s half-brother, Trade Storm, at Northam on October 25.