Evergreen twelve-year-old Poker Storm has proven in recent weeks that he is like a good bottle of wine, getting better with age. This was evident when the gelding brought up career win number 23 in Launceston on 21 December at the Tasracing Official Price of $101.00, beating some quality opposition in the process.
He arrived at the Burrows Avenue stables of Adrian Duggan way back in 2009 and it wasn’t long until he showed he had plenty of fire, as he wasn’t frightened to latch one onto me if I didn’t keep my eye on him.
He showed enough early, and that was vindicated when he was able to win at his third career start coming from behind in Devonport which gave his owners Chris, Annette and Nathan Rockliff, and close friend Peter Webb a huge thrill.
As the season continued, it resulted in a brave second to star youngster Quastor Centurion in the two-year-old Sires Stakes. He was also good enough to compete in the three and four-year-old versions of the prestigious series in Tasmania, and in fact he was a little bit unlucky in the 4YO Sires where he chased home Quastor Centurion and two-time Australian Horse of the Year Beautide, finishing on the heels of them both.
The season of 2017 was the career best for Poker Storm as he won the Ulverstone Cup and finished third in the Devonport Cup behind Pachacuti. He also finished sixth in the state’s leading race the Easter Cup, again behind Pachacuti which would have been a great thrill for all involved.
The admirable quality about the horse is that he has won races in every season since his debut in 2010, which proves that he is an old warhorse. Winning 10 seasons in succession is something that you don’t see happen very often for a horse that has raced his whole career in Tasmania.
Trainer Adrian Duggan looks back on some of his best wins as being those with emotional ties.
“Winning the 2014 Ted Plunkett Memorial as the Plunkett’s and the Duggan’s were close family friends for many years,” said Duggan.
“But the icing on the cake was when he was able to win the 2018 New Norfolk Cup as a spritely ten-year-old as that was where I started my craft as a young teenager up at Kensington Park,” recalled Duggan on the win in February 2018.
Affectionately given the nickname Touchy by Duggan’s son Jacob, Poker Storm has essentially been part of the family having raced through most of Jacob’s childhood.
“Touchy who was named by Jacob has been part of the family, and actually they grew up together. Jacob is 14 and gets to drive him at track work now he has his junior licence and the bond they have together is something that touches our hearts,” Duggan said.
The gelding has been remarkably durable during his career which is something Duggan attributes to his size and manners.
“He’s never broken down in his 11 years and one of the keys to his longevity is that he’s not an overly big horse, and as time has gone on, he’s matured into a beautiful natured horse which allows him to keep racing as well as he is today”.
With the Country Cups circuit on at present, Duggan has expressed that he will tick along and try and win another race before his old boy decides he wants to hang up his hobbles. If that race were to be another New Norfolk Cup, it would be really something.
Poker Storm is raced by some of the best group of owners a trainer could ask for in husband and wife Chris and Annette Rockliff along with their son Jeremy and friend Peter Webb.
“I’m forever grateful to all of them as not once have they put pressure on me to do anything I didn’t want to when it came to Poker Storm, but I often race him at Devonport as the owners are based up there and he also loves the track,” said Duggan with gratitude for the ride that they’ve all been on together with the son of Trump Casino.
“I now have three horses for them that include Sacramento Sun who is a winner, and three-year-old Mista Eagle who has shown enough ability to see him win a few races in time,” said Duggan about his strengthening partnership with the owners.
Duggan is a dual code trainer, also operating a small team of thoroughbreds which includes recent winner Foreeva who relished a wet track in Launceston. Dabbling in more than one code, Duggan credits the hard work of his support team which enables his horses to get to the races.
“I’m a dual code trainer and that’s really something I thoroughly enjoy, but I wouldn’t be able to have the successful operation I have at Defibrillator Lodge without a great bunch of helping hands.
“My stepfather Bruiser Young has been by my side each morning for countless years along with my Mum Susie who has been an integral part of my success today. Along with those two my lovely wife Amanda has supported and backed in every decision which has allowed me to be a full-time trainer while she has gone out to the workforce,” said Duggan with pride.
“Her father Greg is also a huge helping hand around the stables, and I owe him enormously. I also can’t forget my brother Ricky who in my eyes is up there with the best of all time and I’m more than happy to put him on when his available, but it’s not easy,” laughed Duggan.
For Duggan, the family aspect of his training operation is something that makes the hard work worthwhile.
“The greatest satisfaction is having my son Jacob following in my footsteps which is something I cherish so much.
“Time will tell if he continues to follow the family tradition and join his cousin Josh in the driving ranks as it would be great to have two family members that have followed in mine and Ricky’s shoes,” Duggan said.
In closing, the one thing about Poker Storm is that he is a pacer that always goes around at big odds so it a huge credit to Adrian to get him to win the number of races he has!
Watch the replay of Poker Storm’s knockout win on 21 December.