Back to sprinting after trying to steal the race over the mile in his last start, Awesome Storm was back at his best and duly stamped his class in the Metro A set-weight event over 1200m at Sungai Besi here today.

The champion sprinter has won 11 races previously but never beyond 1400m so it was a gallant effort when he set a brisk pace in the Selangor Gold Cup (1600m) 13 days ago but faded to eighth place behind stablemate ANTIPODEAN.

With stable apprentice Tuan Ammar claiming 3kg, Awesome Storm  had just 56.5kg on his back and took advantage of that to lead on settling down from GAMESTONKS.

AWESOME STORM was always two lengths clear of GAMESTONKS till the home straight. The latter came within a length of the leader at the 200m but AWESOME STORM kicked away in the final 100m to win by two and three quarters lengths. He paid a handsome RM52 for a win.

Trigger Pegasus  finished third while the Macau Derby winner Mega Gems , making his Malaysian debut, was given every chance and came in fourth.

"AWESOME STORM showed his class today," said trainer Simon Dunderdale.

"He finally went around with a reasonable weight and was able to dictate in front which is his forte. Well done to my apprentice Ammar who rode a confident race."

"He just loved the (yielding) going today," said Ammar who rode him three times previously without success.

AWESOME STORM, who won one race in Australia, brought his record to 12 wins in 29 starts in Malaysia.