Stormchaser had first-up form going into his comeback at Ascot on Saturday and trainer Like Fernie was confident he could make a winning return from a serious illness in the MCA Polytrack Hcp (1200m).

The Yarradale Stud-bred graduate settled second-last for Brayden Gaerth and then produced a sustained finish down the outside to collar Supersession (Sessions) with no more than a half-length between the first four home.

Stormchaser (4g Impending - Chantski by War Chant) was at death’s door late last year with colic.  “He had to be rushed to the vets and we nearly lost him,” Fernie recalled.  “He’s come back beautifully and there are lots of good wins in him.”

Yesterday’s victory was his second success when resuming from a spell.  The first was at Bunbury as a spring 3yo in November 2023 and he followed up with a black-type placing the LR Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic (1400m) won by Investmentstrategy (Playing God) at Ascot.

Stormchaser was on a path to the G1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) prior to the setback and he can make up for lost time at the Kalgoorlie Cup carnival in September - October.  Fernie was born and bred on the Goldfields and has options in the LR Hannans Hcp (1400m) and the inaugural $1 million Golden Saddle (1100m).

“We will see how things play out but he’s good enough to do both!  And the owners deserve the rewards for being super when everything hit the fan.”

Stormchaser cost $50,000 out of the Yarradale draft at the 2022 Perth Magic Millions and from just 13 starts he’s returned $362,000 including Westspeed Bonuses of $96,000 for a syndicate that includes Yarradale owner Lyn Sayers.  His dam Chantski was the first Australian-bred black-type winner for Yarradale stallion War Chant (USA) in the G3 Gimcrack Stakes (1100m) of 2015.

Fernie’s blue and pink silks completed a double with Capitola and Stormchaser on Saturday and his recent winners with a Yarradale connection includes Keep Ita Mystery (War Chant) and its Magic Millions graduate Tawkin’ Jibberish (Ducimus).

He also paid $475,000 for the Pinatubo - Cosmic Endeavour filly at the Inglis Australian Yearling Sale last month in partnership with Yarradale and stable clients Kim Doak and Maria Manfredini who race Tawkin’ Jibberish.

STORMCHASER / Photo: Western Racepix