The ‘King’ in full swing

Champion pacer King Of Swing lit-up the Menangle trials on Wednesday as he prepares to chase more Group 1 glory.

The dual Miracle Mile and Hunter Cup winner scorched over a mile in 1min 49.9sec – fast enough to win most races at Menangle – and he did it in second gear.

“He cruised in that, did it so easily,” co-trainer and driver Luke McCarthy said. “It felt like he was going 1min 51sec, not breaking 1min 50sec.

“He’s really fit. He didn’t have that long off after his Queensland campaign. He could race right now.”

King Of Swing, a winner of 36 races and almost $2.4m, will resume in a 1609m free-for-all at Menangle on Saturday week.

Then he’s straight back into Group 1 racing for the $300,000 Victoria Cup, which has been moved from Melton to Bendigo, on October 9. He ran second to Lochinvar Art in the race last year.

“He pulled-up great after the trial. He wouldn’t have blown a candle out,” McCarthy said.

“We’re committed to the Victoria Cup, even though I won’t be able to go with him. It’s a great race and he’ll be really well suited.”

With McCarthy stuck in NSW because of Covid border restrictions, top Victorian freelancer David Moran has been booked for King Of Swing in the Victoria Cup.

Ironically, Moran trained and drove Lochinvar Art to beat King Of Swing last year.

“What a privilege to get the call up to drive a horse like him,” Moran said. “He’s a mighty horse and I’ve seen more of him close-up than most. Whatever beats him will win it, you’d think.”

Beyond the Victoria Cup, King Of Swing has the Group 1 Len Smith Mile back at Menangle on October 23 and then the NSW Inter Dominion series, starting on November 27.

King Of Swing’s trial at Menangle on Wednesday:

By Adam Hamilton