Swayzee faces crucial Menangle mission ahead of NZ Cup

D-DAY is here for the pacing brute that is Swayzee (Rock N Roll Heaven).

The champion Menangle stayer needs to win and make a statement in tomorrow night’s Graham McNeice Memorial (1609m) at Menangle to show he is on target to chase a record-equalling third NZ Cup harness racing win on November 11.

It won’t be easy over an unsuitably short distance and from the outside draw against some quality rivals, headed by Max Delight, Horn Player and Cya Art.

Swayzee, who has won just one of his three 1609m starts at Menangle, has been beaten at his past four starts, two of them this campaign.

He recently missed defending his Victoria Cup crown at Melton after a health setback.

Trainer Jason Grimson has declared the rising eight-year-old back on target and booked him to fly from Sydney to Christchurch via Auckland on Sunday week.

It’s only a couple of days out from the race, but it’s the same tight schedule Swayzee followed to successfully defend his crown last year.

For all his greatness at Addington, this will be by far the strong NZ Cup field Swayzee has faced.

His champion half-brother Leap To Fame, who returned to winning form at Melton last Saturday night, will be on a flight Monday to chase the Cup for the first time.

The NSW-trained Kingman, who upstaged Leap To Fame in the Group 1 Victoria Cup two weeks ago, will also cross the ditch.

Trainer-driver Luke McCarthy was thrilled with how the four-year-old handled his first try at a standing-start in a Menangle trial on Wednesday.

“It was everything we hoped for. He stepped away well and wasn’t fussed by it,” he said.

Owner-breeder Mick Harvey confirmed the trip.

“It’s a goer. He’ll have two runs over there, the (NZ) Cup and the Christian Cullen 10 days later,” he said.

In other stable news, McCarthy confirmed his Inter Dominion and Miracle Mile winner Don Hugo would return to racing on Saturday week.

“He’s raring to go. There’s a free-for-all for him at Menangle next Saturday,” he said.

“He’ll have that run then head to Wagga (November 14) for the first leg of the (NSW) Carnival of Cups.”

Other big names headed for Wagga include Catch A Wave, Captains Knock, Nyack, Ubetcha Tigerpie, Kanena Provlima and Oliver

by Adam Hamilton for Harness Racing Australia