CHAMPION stayer Swayzee showed he was primed for a surprise first-up tilt at the $150,000 Group 1 Len Smith Mile with a scorching Menangle trial win today.
The powerhouse seven-year-old, who boasts 30 wins and almost $2.25 million, won a small but elite mile trial in 1min49.9sec, ripping home in 54.1 and 27sec, beating superstar warhorse Max Delight and sprint specialist, Hi Manameisjeff.
It was all connections needed to confirm a change of plans for him to tackle Saturday week’s Len Smith Mile, a race that was never on his radar.
Swayzee, winner of the past two NZ Cups and also the reigning Hunter and Victoria Cup champion, hasn’t raced since finishing fourth in the $1.25mil Group 1 Nullarbor at Gloucester Park on April 25.
Although better known for his staying prowess, Swayzee has raced four times in sprint races for trainer Jason Grimson for three wins and a desperately unlucky fourth in the $1mil Miracle Mile when held up in traffic on March 8.
The big striding gelding has grabbed Len Smith favouritism at $3.20.
The Len Smith is the first of three Group 1 targets in coming months for Swayzee.
He will head to Melton to defend his Victoria Cup crown on October 18 and then fly to Christchurch, via Auckland, to chase a remarkable third successive $NZ1mil NZ Trotting Cup win at Addington on November 11.
Max Delight’s driver Will Rixon took plenty of heart from the close second to Swayzee in today’s trial.
“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.”
