Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted May 24, 2023 Journalists Share Posted May 24, 2023 Tyler Schiller guides Special Swey to victory in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate. (Photo: Darren Winningham)Special Swey is ready to prove how special he is when he lines up in the $1 million Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm this Saturday. In his way over the 2400m journey is not only the carpark draw, but also the first clash with his talented stablemate Kovalica. Joining the Chris Waller stable, Special Swey won by 1.5 lengths in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate earlier this month on his Australian debut when paying $26 with online bookmakers. Under Tyler Schiller, the Sweynesse x Mia Mamma gelding caused the boilover after taking the lead from the jump without any contest and then kicking clear in the home straight to hold on from The Vowels. 2023 Rough Habit Plate replay Winner: Special Swey The stage is now set for a huge battle over the 2400m with The Vowels ($13) and Tapildoodledo ($51) also throwing down the challenge in the Group 1 feature for three-year-olds. Kovalica (8:5-0-2) triumphed in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas before finishing third in the Group 1 Doomben Cup but was scratched from the Rough Habit, so all eyes will be on the contest between these two Waller runners this weekend. He will begin as odds-on favourite, currently paying $1.95 with the top betting sites. Waller was impressed with the performance from Special Swey in the Rough Habit. “He nailed it, he’s obviously very smart. He knew how slow they were going and decided ‘let’s go’,” he told media after the race. “He’s still behind Kovalica, but if there’s a chink in Kovalica’s armour he’ll run a strong 2400m. “Certainly, number two but he’s putting his head up and saying ‘I might enjoy this Queensland life’.” Kovalica has drawn gate five with James McDonald on board setting up a great opportunity from the decent alley, while Special Swey ($10) has drawn barrier 17 with Nash Rawiller booked to ride. 2023 Queensland Derby field No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Kovalica Chris Waller James McDonald 5 57kg 2 The Vowels Toby & Trent Edmonds James Orman 14 57kg 3 Aberfeldie Boy Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock Craig Newitt 8 57kg 4 Promises Kept Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Mark Zahra 1 57kg 5 Andalus John O’Shea Blake Shinn 19 57kg 6 Tapildoodledo Kerry Taplin Ben Thompson 7 57kg 7 Waitak Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott Jake Bayliss 15 57kg 8 Special Swey Chris Waller Nash Rawiller 17 57kg 9 Stroke Of Luck John O’Shea Ben Melham 4 57kg 10 Smartawi Gregory Hickman Tyler Schiller 18 57kg 11 Arby Darryn & Briar Weatherley Sam Weatherley 16 57kg 12 Cut On A Dime Bryce Heys Damien Thornton 2 57kg 13 The Englishman Peter & Paul Snowden Chad Schofield 13 57kg 14 Fame Peter Moody Jason Collett 12 57kg 15 Xtrarevz John Sargent Joshua Parr 6 57kg 16 Sacred Mission David Vandyke Craig Williams 10 57kg 17 Amalgamation Marcus Wilson Samantha Collett 20 57kg 18 True Blue Matthew Smith Opie Bosson 11 57kg 19 Subarctic (1E) Matthew Smith TBC 9 57kg 20 Artful Girl (2E) Kevin Kemp Marnu Potgieter 3 55kg More horse racing news View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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