SPORT: Swayzee brilliant in Hunter Cup victory
It was Sportsbet A.G. Hunter Cup night at Melton Entertainment Park on Saturday February 1 and Victoria’s major feature race meeting attracted more stars than what you would see on the American flag.
Attracting a tremendous field in what was possibly the best race ever seen on the Melton circuit which included the best horse in the Southern Hemisphere Queenslander Leap To Fame, giant killer Swayzee from NSW a duel NZ Cup winner and half brother (by Bettors Delight) who had brilliantly won the Victoria Cup in October last year, Kiwi’s Republican Party, Tact McLeod and Don’t Stop Dreaming, plus Inter Dominion winner Don Hugo along with Shepparton Gold Cup victor Kanena Provlema and a host of other open class winners, the race was set to be the highlight of the season so far and it was.
Gaining a great run through the field from gate four on the second line although trapped wide as Tact McLeod led from gate two in the 2760 metre feature with Republican Party trailing from the pole, Swayzee was off and running in the straight with two laps to travel.
Don Hugo (gate four) had been trapped in the open momentarily being trailed by Leap To Fame which was able to come away from four pegs to possie one/one on his back, with outsider Hector now four pegs.
Leaving the prime spot prior to the bell to race exposed to the roar of the crowd, the two fancied runners were set to fight out the finish with Leap To Fame joining the leader on the final bend.
In a thrilling two horse battle all the way up the running, Swayzee (Cameron Hart for trainer Jason Grimson) renowned for his staying prowess kept on giving under hard driving to gain the day by a head in a thriller over Leap To Fame, with Republican Party using the sprint lane inside Tact Command for third a half neck away a head in advance of Tact Command which also used the sprint lane.
In quarters of 28.2, 28.1, 27 and 27.6 after a lead time of 80.9 seconds, Swayzee a 7Y0 gelded son of Rock N Roll Heaven and Lettucereason returned a new scintillating track record mile rate of 1-51.9 taking 1.3 seconds of Tiger Tara’s 1-53.2 set in 2019.
The $250,000 Great Southern Star over 1720 metres was a blowout with Andy and Kate Gath’s Majestic Son-Watts Up Rainbow 5Y0 gelding Watts Up Partytime bred and raced by Bradley Watts winning both the heat and final at given odds of 100/1 in both races, returning a mile rate of 1-53 in the final.
Average – really!
I read with interest and disappointment at Adam Hamilton’s comments in both the Herald Sun and HRA web page on Tuesday February 4 concerning the classification of some of our sports past ‘champions’.
To say horses such as Paleface Adios who without doubt was everybody’s favourite standardbred, Gammalite (duel Inter Dominion winner 1983/84), Koala King (1980 Inter Dominion), Golden Reign (1995 Inter Dominion), Im The Mighty Quinn (three time ID winner 2011/12/13) and Mr Feelgood (2009 I-D) were not stars of our sport is a distinct understatement. Many of these horses had a cult following (none greater than Paleface Adios) who would draw crowds whenever they were gracing the race track.
Considering these horses had won dozens of major races in every state of Australia and New Zealand between them, they were well worthy of ‘champion’ classification’ and I’m sure many of the connections and relatives of those who raced them would be offended (if you could read between the lines) by the comments made.
Sure each decade bring new heroes to the fore, but please don’t neglect those in the past who had a huge status when they were racing.
Adam, I can honestly say is and has been a close friend of mine for a long period of time and his knowledge of the sport is exceptional, but in some case you can be a little forgetful and what was written is an example of this.
At Shepparton
Shepparton’s usual Tuesday meeting commenced the week on Tuesday February 4 with a eight race program and local trainer Stephen O’Donoghue was victorious with 7Y0 Changeover-Lombo Mini Lamouch gelding Frugal Farein the 1690 metre Cottrell electrical Pace to open the night’s racing.
Driven by Ryan Sanderson, Frugal Fare starting from the extreme draw settled near last as Community Art (Liam Older) led from gate four. Following Hez Harrywho ahead of him home in the last lap which joined the leader running into the final bend as Frugal Fare was able to drop into a one/one trail momentarily, Frugal Fare after getting on terms halfway up the running, finished best to prevail by 2.8 metres over Hes Harrywho, with Spirit Of Sahara (four pegs) running home late after being extricated wide on straightening for third 1.3 metres back. The mile rate 1-56.2.
Young (Monteagle) trainer David Micallef who has over 315 wins to date combined with prolific winning son Blake (341 wins around the Riverina) to bring off a profitable plunge after Downbytheseaside-Light In Ever Day gelding Seaside Delight backed from an $18 opening quote to run a $1.80 favourite led throughout from gate three to run his rivals ragged in a mile rate of 1-56.7 to take the 1690 metre Neatline Homes 3Y0 Maiden Pace. First up since October last year, Seaside Delight was allowed to run and that’s what he did, greeting the judge by five metres ahead of Fifty Seven Chevy (gate two) which trailed not shirking the effort. Mid Summer after racing exposed from outside the front line was third 23.4 metres back. The mile rate 1-56.7.
Ardmona duo Donna Castles and husband Doc Wilson brought up two wins in succession with 5Y0 Fly Like An Eagle-Our Dream Girl gelding Eagle Major in the 2190 metre $100 Members Draw Every Tuesday Pace.
Driven once again by Doc, Eagle Major (one/two) from gate two vacated the cosy trip approaching the bell to park outside the pacemaker Scrittore before striding clear in the last lap. Giving plenty as the winning post loomed, Eagle Major defied all challengers to score by a nose only in 2-01.8 from Epic Orion (one/three – one/one home turn) in a strong performance proving that his win at Wedderburn on Cup Day was no fluke. Sophies Scooter (three pegs) was third 6.3 metres away.
Melton trainer Ken Tippet’s recent run of success continued when 10Y0 Four Starzzz Shark-Ebilix gelding Alpha Crucis at start 86 led throughout in the 2190 metre Central Tyre Service Pace with talented 22 year old reinswoman Ewa Justice in the sulky. Rated to perfection from gate three, Alpha Crucis ran out an easy 5.1 metre victor much to the delight of the family syndicate which race him, accounting for Well Well which trailed from the pole. Marako Shark ran home late from a mile back for third 5.1 metres away. The mile rate 2-02.3.
Double Day
It was double day on Wednesday with Maryborough racing in the afternoon and Bendigo at night.
Seven year old Majestic Son-Lady MacKendon gelding Mielicki chalked up his ninth success (25 placings) in 88 outings when taking the 2190 metre Redpath Tyre and Battery Service Trotters Mobile for Daylesford trainer Anne-Maree Conroy and reinsman brother Glenn no doubt exciting the new owners.
Settling three pegs from gate three as Boutika (gate five) was driven with urgency to cross the leader Christmas Babe, Mielicki was able to extricate into the clear prior to the home turn to follow Astrid (four pegs) which had raced exposed from the bell before taking over on the final bend.
In a head and head dual all the way up the running, Mielicki did best to gain the day by a head returning a mile rate of 2-01.9. With Aplomb (one/one at bell) was third for Anne-Maree 11 metres away.
- Ross Creek trainer Stephen Clarke has had a phenomenal run of late with his team and recent stable addition Love Who. a 7Y0 gelded son of Love You and Total Affirmation driven by daughter Reagan led throughout to land the 2190 metre AB Paint Concession Drivers Trotters Mobile.
Allowed to bowl, Love Who a maiden after 33 starts in NSW and Queensland ran his rivals ragged in defeating Champagnes (three wide last lap from the tail) after starting solo on the second line and Touchandgo (one/two from outside the front line).
The margins 3.4 by 15.3 metres in a mile rate of 2-03.1.The winner is raced by Stephen’s father Jim always on hand to assist.
The pair were again victorious in the McPhersons Printing Group Concession Drivers Pace over 2190 metres when 6Y0 Somebeachsomewhere-Lucky Ha Ha mare Lollipop returning from NSW outstayed her rivals after racing exposed from gate three, accounting for One Off (one/two) by 1.4 metres in a rate of 2-01.2. Polemarker Summerhill after trailing the pacemaker Northern Terror which had circled the field from the extreme draw to lead was third 1.4 metres away. - Stawell trainer Jason Ainsworth combined with Kerryn Manning aboard 6Y0 Racing Hill-Floweronthewall mare Alfnalma to snare the Bartlett Manufacturing Pace over 1690 metres. Taken back to the rear from outside the front line, Alfnalma made ground in the last lap to be four back along the markers before surging home along the sprint lane on turning to register a 2.6 metre margin from the pacemaker Asmileandawinx (gate three) and Black Cameo which came away from the peg line on turning for third 1.7 metres away. The mile rate a slick 1-55.2.
- At Bendigo Long Forest trainer Andy Gath’s 7Y0 Bettors Delight-Coppagoodone gelding Yambuckian looked ideally placed in the 1650 metre Haeuslers Echuca Pace and had no trouble in winning.
Driven by wife Kate, Yambuckian who has run some mighty races at times settled well back from the extreme draw before making a swift three wide move racing for the bell to cross the well supported leader Repelling (gate two).
With no challengers in sight approaching the final bend, Yambuckian was never extended to greet the judge by 3.2 metres over Repelling which tried to make a race of it, with Harrywho (one/one) third 11.2 metres away. The mile rate a brilliant 1-50.9 - Arcadia part-owner/trainer Jamie Egan’s 6Y0 Badlands Hanover-Clearwater Blue mare Harley Blue brought up her 8th success in 92 outings when successful in the Impact-A Fasteners & Construction Supplies Mares Pace over 1650 metres.
With Michael Bellman in the sulky, Harley Blue enjoyed a sweet passage trailing the leader Amber Alert (gate two) after having an unsuccessful bid for the front running from gate five. Using the sprint lane on straightening, Harley Blue finished best to register a neck margin over the pacemaker, with Kimcando third 1.4 metres away from mid-field in the running line. The mile rate 1-56.7. - You have to hand it to Carisbrook part-owner/trainer Brett Shipway after ‘iron’ 8Y0 Ships Spur-Earls Gold mare Black And Gold home bred by partner Carol Batson after racing at Melton on February 1 in the Great Southern Star, backed up in the 2150 metre Aldebaran Park Trotters Mobile when having start number 190. Beginning best to lead from gate two, Black And Gold defied all challengers to record an easy 6.3 metre victory in 2-01.1 over Majestic Ga Ga from last after being trapped wide from gate five. At The Distance after going forward from mid-field to race uncovered at the bell was third 3.6 metres away.
Ballarat bulletin
- Ballarat held a seven event card on Thursday and local part-owner/trainer/driver Ryan Duffy landed the ballarattrottingclub.com.au Trotters Mobile over 2200 metres with well supported 5Y0 Pegasus Spur- Goodtime Truscott gelding Rileys Pegasus.
Raced by Gordon’s Tim McGuigan in partnership, Rileys Pegasus first up since last November settled one/one from gate three as polemarker Maoris Return led.
Easing three wide racing for the bell, Rileys Pegasus showing a great turn of speed to lead for the final circuit to easily account for No Telling Heather (one/one last lap) by 3.7 metres, with Maoris Return holding down third 2.5 metres away. The mile rate 2-02.1. - Gisborne part-owner/trainer Don Lock’s honest 8Y0 Caribbean Blaster-Need A Boyfriend mare Calypso Mistress snared the 1710 metre Woodlands Stud Pace in a rate of 1-56.1.
With Long Forest based Jordan Leedham in the sulky, Calypso Mistress (gate five) was trapped three wide before going forward to park outside the pacemaker Blue Miki (gate four) before the favourite Reign Em In went forward to park in the open giving her one/one cover and Archaa sprinting brilliantly from mid-field to lead.
Angling three wide on turning, as Reign Em In despite racing exposed took over, Calypso Mistress issued a strong challenge with Royal Saxon coming from the tail and making the final bend four wide looking likely to score, however Calypso Mistress rallied in grand style to gain the day by a nose over Blue Miki along the inside, with Royal Saxon weakening on his run to be third a half neck way. The mile rate 1-56.1. - Fourteen year old Kiwi bred Live Or Die-Lady Petrol gelding River Patrol a winner of sixteen from 274 outings with 85 placings was victorious in the 7+ Pace over 1710 metres. With Chris Alford driving, River Patrol (gate six) began with his customary speed to lead before handing over to Goodtime Stryker (outside front line). Angling away from the markers on turning, River Patrol defied his age to race clear and score by 4.1 metres in 1-59.1 from Blissfull Lilly (three pegs) along the inside with Goodtime Stryker third a head back.
Massive plunge
- Geelong raced on Friday and a massive plunge was landed in the Hoyts Foods Pace over 1609 metres when beautifully bred 5Y0 Captain Treacherous-Golden Flyin gelding Admiralofthefleet backed from a morning quote of $18 to start a short priced $2.50 favourite scored narrowly. Trained at Glen Park (Ballarat) by Wayne Ronan and driven by son Connor who also holds a share, Admiralofthefleet first up since October last year settled three back in the moving line from gate two as the speed was on with Tinsel Tiara retaining the lead from the pole being pressured by Iamawingate (gate five) three wide to race exposed entering the straight on the first occasion with Micton Mouse three wide from outside the front line.
This Week
- Tuesday – Shepparton, Wednesday – Maryborough/Mildura, Thursday – Kilmore, Friday – Maryborough/Terang (Cup), Saturday – Melton, Sunday – Echuca.
Len Baker