By Adam Hamilton
Cam Hart admits there was some level of relief mixed in with excitement when dual IRT NZ Trotting Cup hero Swayzee brilliantly won a Menangle trial today.
It was the mighty stayer’s first public outing since finishing fourth as favourite in the $1.25m Group 1 Nullarbor at Perth’s Gloucester Park on April 25.
And it cemented a first-up tilt at next Saturday night’s $150,000 Group 1 Len Smith Mile at Menangle.
“I drove him in work last week and told Jase (Grimson, trainer) he felt as good as ever, so to then go and back that up with a trial like that was fantastic,” Hart said.
“He’s getting older and he’s had lots of hard racing, but having that break he did after a busy campaign has been perfect.
“I honestly think he felt as good as he ever has out there today.”
Swayzee was behind leader and stablemate Hi Manameisjeff with Max Delight last of the three in a solidly run mile trial.
Swayzee came off the leader’s back to rush past him and Max Delight happily just followed the winner to the line in a scorching 1min49.9sec mile. They ripped home in 54.1 and 27sec flat.
“He felt fresh and sharp. Even at the start he wanted to try and run the gate, which was a great sign,” Hart said.
“He’s had a good build-up, but that was just what he needed, a perfect hitout, a week-and-a-half out from the race (Len Smith).”
Swayzee is a $4.60 second favourite for the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup behind Leap To fame ($1.60), with nominations for this year’s race closing at 3pm (NZT) tomorrow (Thursday).
Old marvel Max Delight, who stalked and ran down Swayzee when they last met in April, hit the line full of running behind him today.
Driver Will Rixon took plenty of heart from the trial, ahead of the Len Smith.
“I couldn’t have been travelling any easier on his back and decided not to pull out because it was just a trial,” he said.
“He felt like he had plenty left and, although Swayzee can be a hard horse to get past, we have before and it felt like we’d have at least got right up to him if I’d asked my guy.
“Old Max is absolutely flying. He ran home in 52.8sec to win last start and I think we’re going into the Len Smith with as good a chance as any. Now we just need a good draw.
“No doubt Swayzee will take plenty of beating, but he’s first-up and we’ve had a really strong foundation of racing, including two recent 1min48sec mile wins at Menangle.”
Max Delight will be part of a big TAB Eureka night for Rixon, who will partner the John Hawkes-owned Seathestars in the main event.
Seathestars, one of a trio of three-year-olds already guaranteed a TAB Eureka start, won his Menangle trial easily today.
“He led and it was very windy, but he finished it off really well,” Rixon said.
Seathestars dashed clear to win by 11.4m in a 1min54sec mile, sprinting-up the closing splits in 54.3 and 26.4sec.
“He’s really going places, this horse. That Queensland Derby run really showed his potential and I loved the way he won at Menangle last time,” Rixon said.
“I know it’s a wide-open Eureka, but he can win it with the right run and he felt right on target today.”
