TOP trainer Jason Grimson loves going bush with his stars.
While Grimson trains at Menangle and boasts a string of mega wins, including two Inter Dominion and two NZ Cups, at major tracks, he is Young and remains a country lad at heart.
It was highlighted late last year when Grimson, fresh from an historic NZ Cup title defence in Christchurch with Swayzee, revealed he would bypass the iconic Inter Dominion series with his stable star to focus on the NSW Carnival of Cups series.
Sure, the lure of a $1 million bonus for winning all five legs had plenty to do with it, but it is also where the introverted Grimson prefers to be.
Swayzee won the first leg at Parkes on September 20, then added leg two at Young on November 8.
The mighty stayer looks to have the third at his mercy at Tamworth on Friday week.
Victory there will guarantee Swayzee’s connections at least a $250,000 bonus, but they want the lot.
So, the six-year-old will also skip Victoria’s biggest race, the Group 1 Hunter Cup, to target the last two legs of the Carnival of Cups. They are at Albury on February 14 and Penrith on March 15.
While Swayzee won’t head to Victoria, where he won the Group 1 Victoria Cup last October, Grimson will return.
And, fittingly, his latest raid starts by going bush for the Saturday night’s $50,000 Group 3 Shepparton Cup (2690m).
His hopes rest with exciting recent stable addition, Miki Pins, who is unbeaten in four starts for Grimson and boasts eight wins from just 18 lifetime runs.
As impressive as the gelding has looked zooming through the grades, this is a big and quick step into genuine open-class racing.
And Miki Pins will have to overcome a back row draw (gate 11) against proven classy performers in Kanena Provlima (two), Tact McLeod (three), Captain Hammerhead (four), Rock N Roll Doo (nine) and Cantfindabettorman (13).
Asked how good Miki Pins was, Grimson said: “You’re better off asking Jack (Callaghan, driver), he won’t let me near him at home.”
Callaghan laughed and added: “He’s good, potentially really good. He’s got electric speed, but you can also do work on him as well.
“He’s still not the complete package as far as switching on and off a bit, but the way he’s developed through these four wins from ‘Grimmo’ has been amazing.
“I think Shepparton is an ideal stepping-stone race for him. Yes, it’s proper open class, but the big stars aren’t there.
“I’m sure he’ll be very competitive. The back row isn’t ideal, but he’s the sort of horse I can make a move on and put into the race, so that helps.”
Callaghan won the 2022 Shepparton Cup on Spirit Of St Louis.
“What a ride he gave me that campaign. He won the Bendigo, Shepparton and Ballarat Cups, then ran second in the Hunter Cup and Miracle Mile a few weeks later,” he said.
Grimson is also no stranger to Victoria’s country cups, having won the Cranbourne and Bendigo Cups with Major Meister in late 2022 and early 2023, then Major Moth won last year’s Kilmore Cup.
