Swayzee, Jason Grimson and Cam Hart. Photo courtesy HRNZ
THERE must have been at least a part of Jason Grimson and Cam Hart wondering what might have been.
The pair teamed-up with Curly James, who over raced badly and tired for 10th in the Inter Dominion final, but are best known for their deeds with dual NZ Cup winner, Swayzee.
The way that final was run, a mighty stayer like Swayzee would have revelled in it.
Instead, Grimson and owner Mick Boots opted to skip the Inter Dominion and stay focused on landing the $1 million bonus for winning all five legs of the NSW Carnival of Cups.
Swayzee won the first two at Parkes (September 20) and Young (November 8) and now heads to Tamworth on January 17.
Victory at Tamworth would secure Swayzee at least a $250,000 bonus. That doubles to $500,000 if he can win Tamworth and add Albury on February 14.
All going well, the rising seven-year-old would then be racing for the $1 million bonus at Penrith on March 15.
Swayzee hasn’t raced since going back-to-back in Australasia’s greatest staying race, the NZ Cup, at Addington on November 12.
In more exciting news for regional NSW, Hart confirmed Swayzee would resume from a freshen-up in the $50,000 Group 3 Shirley Turnbull Memorial (2790m) at Bathurst on Boxing Night.
“Then he’s off to Tamworth for the third leg (of the Carnival of Cups),” he added.
Swayzee has been sparingly raced this year, with his nine starts netting six wins and three seconds.
Two of those seconds were to arch-rival and half-brother Leap To Fame, including the Blacks A Fake, while his stablemate Nerano nosed him out in the Lucky Creed at Albion Park on June 22.
