Former Southlander looking forward to NZ Cup

Lester Drake has been around harness racing horses all his life and if Swayzee (Rock N Roll Heaven) starts in next month’s IRT New Zealand, it’ll be the thrill of a lifetime for the former Southlander.

“I never missed a Trotting Cup when I lived on the coast (West Coast). That was my trip away for the week. It’s just a thrill to have a horse in the trotting Cup. A lot of people wait years and years,” he said.

The Australian bred and trained Swayzee is owned by Boots Properties Pty Ltd, Drake, his good friend Neville Jackson and the horse’s trainer Jason Grimson.

“Neville and I raced gallopers together so we’ve been in horses all our lives. We bought them, won a few races with them and then sold them to Hong Kong or good money.”

Lester and his wife Kay live in Havelock North now.

His older brother Noel bred a host of pacing winners out of his Dick Adios mare Cirrus, including Motu Princess (Tempest Hanover), Hurricane Kiwi (Armbro Hurricane) and Motu Prince (Armbro Del) all of whom won seven races.

“When I lived in Greymouth, I helped Ross Steel out. He had Falsehood (Fallacy) and Dandy Briar (Garrison Hanover) before they went to Ces Donald’s. I had a few horses at Victoria Park and we helped each other out like coasters do. I’ve had a few slow ones. I turned eighty in August so I’ve had to wait a long time to get a good horse.”

Swayzee is out of Lettucereason (Art Major) and is the older brother of Leap To Fame, (Bettor’s Delight) the winner of twenty four of his thirty three starts and stakes of $1,429,882.

“Tim (Butt) bought him (Swayzee) as a yearling and asked us if would like a share in him, so we’ve been in him since day one.”

in April 2020 at Menangle as a two year old the horse won his first race by just over fourteen metres. He won a further eight races for Butt. Then earlier this year he was transferred to the Grimson stable and since then he’s won all of his seven starts.

There’s a bit of kiwi in Swayzee. His fourth dam Del’s Dream (Armbro Del) won fourteen races for three different trainers, Jim Smith, Roy Purdon and Arthur Cross.

Come the second Tuesday in November, lets hope Swayzee can take away a win in the country’s biggest pacing feature for his connections on both sides of the Tasman.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink