Veteran gelding Geostorm makes a triumphant return to the Central West on Monday to take part in the race that honours his achievements as the 2025\/26 Bathurst Horse of the Year.<\/p>\n
Housed some 250km away in Canberra, Geostorm<\/a> will be one of four Greg Stephens<\/a>-trained gallopers making the trip, one that clearly delights the eight-year-old son of Golden Rose<\/a> winner Epaulette.<\/p>\n \u201cHe just loves everything there,\u2019\u2019 Stephens said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe likes the different air over that side of the world, it\u2019s a bit fresher and clearer than the coast.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he is a bit like us, he loves the journey. It\u2019s actually a very scenic journey.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of people don\u2019t like the road we go on because it is winding and everything but we just go slow.<\/p>\n \u201cWe just poke along and I think that suits (the horses) too; they\u2019re not working on the truck.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 PUNT LIKE A PRO<\/a>: Become a Racenet iQ member<\/a> and get expert tips \u2013 with fully transparent return on investment statistics \u2013 from Racenet\u2019s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section<\/a>. SUBSCRIBE NOW<\/a>!<\/p>\n Geostorm\u2019s title defence begins on Monday in the appropriately named Horse of The Year: Geostorm Benchmark 58 Handicap (1406m)<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has always got a chance,\u2019\u2019 Stephens says.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s speed in the race but Brock\u2019s (Ryan)<\/a> smart and it might be our turn to push someone else along instead of letting them push us.\u201d<\/p>\n Stephens\u2019 remaining three runners all appear in quaddie legs at Monday\u2019s meeting.<\/p>\n \u2022 Everest possibility for Waller\u2019s new leading Lady<\/a><\/p>\n Geostorm kicks it off followed by the well-bred Niccolina<\/a>, Tillman<\/a> and the reliable Press Statement gelding Media Coverage<\/a>.<\/p>\n Niccolina, whose dam is a sister to Amelia\u2019s Dream, has raced at Bathurst<\/a> twice for a second and a third.<\/p>\n The daughter of Nicconi will go around with just 51kg on her back in the race named after the Club\u2019s Apprentice Jockey Of The Year, Siena Grima<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything is good with her,\u2019\u2019 Stephens reported.<\/p>\n