Swayzee wins ahead of Tuesday’s NZ Cup at Addington

[Wandering Eyes]

By Adam Hamilton 

The first step of Swayzee’s extraordinary IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup title defence went without fuss when he easily won last night’s $60,000 Cherry City Cup (2887m) at Young.

The race, which required a seven-hour return road trip from Swayzee’s Menangle barn, was crucial as it kept alive his quest to snare a $1 million bonus for winning all five legs of the NSW Carnival of Cups series.

Swayzee won the first leg at Parkes on September 20 and last night’s race at Young was the second leg. The next leg is at Tamworth on January 17.

Last night was the romp many expected with Swayzee’s driver Cam Hart looking to give him the easiest possible run ahead of his manic next few days ahead of Tuesday’s NZ Cup.

Hart pushed through from the back row and kept charging around the field to find the lead after 400m. He then dictated terms through a steady 61.6sec middle half.

Hart barely quickened down the back straight in 29.1sec as Serg Blanco charged quickly at him and Jordy looked from a run on his back.

But Swayzee was just cruising and Hart “clicked him up” to pull away and win by three metres over Jordy with Serg Blanco third in a 27.2sec last quarter. They went a 2min0.2sec mile rate for the marathon trip.

Trainer Jason Grimson will quickly switch focus to Sunday when Swayzee boards a flight to Auckland and then a connector from Auckland down to Christchurch.

With yesterday’s scratching of Leap To Fame, Swayzee is $2.70 favourite to successfully defend his title at Addington on Tuesday. Young Kiwi stars Merlin ($3.20) and Don’t Stop Dreaming ($4.50) are the main dangers.

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TOP former Kiwi pacer Minstrel snared the biggest win of his career and did it the hard way in last night’s $450,000 Group 1 WA Pacing Cup at Gloucester Park.

In a remarkable training performance, Team Bond did it with Minstrel just second-up from a spell and after having a fitness scare a couple of weeks ago.

Throw in the fact he sat parked throughout the 2536m feature and it was a WA Cup win to remember.

Young gun driver Deni Roberts did her part, “nursing” Minstrel outside leader Pinny Tiger as long as she could, knowing main dangers Mister Smartie (one-one) and Captain Ravishing (one out, two back) were stalking her.

Minstrel gave a great kick at the top of the straight and held-off Mister Smartie to win by 1.5m in a 1min55sec mile rate, while Mighty Ronaldo escaped three pegs to charge into third spot.

Captain Ravishing came three-wide without cover at the 1000m rather than risk being pocketed, but the effort took its toll and he weakened late to finish a close fourth.

Minstrel’s win capped a massive week for Team Bond and Roberts, who won the Group 1 WA Derby the previous Friday night with Christopher Dance.

“That almost brought a tear to my eye and I’m not one to cry. That’s insane,” Roberts said.

“He’s an absolute machine. I thought they’d get me at the top of the straight, but he finds that extra gear that the others don’t have. He’s been the most amazing horse for us.”

Minstrel’s win was his 25th from 64 starts with another 19 placings. He’s now banked $1,298,288.

Earlier in the night, star mare Steno made the most of an ideal draw to lead throughout and win the $100,000 Group 2 Norms Daughter Classic.

Trained and driven by Jocelyn Young, Steno scorched down the back straight in 27.4sec and just held-off a late challenge from Little Darling to win by a half-head in a 1min54.7sec mile rate for 2130m.

Last season’s NZ Oaks winner Aardiebytheseaside did the work outside the leader and tired to finish 10m from the winner in fifth spot.

 

 

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