Swain team on the improve

Robin Swain heads to Ascot Park on Saturday with two harness racing horses on the improve.

Swain starts both Magnetic Terror (Terror To Love) and The Big Lebowski (Mach Three) who both look genuine each-way threats while Steel Crusher will step out as the roughie among the trainer’s three-horse team.

Magnetic Terror heads into race 4 on the back of a good fresh up third in his first race in almost 14 months.

“He hadn’t had a race for a year, he had a wee niggle, it wasn’t anything major but he had a long spell,” Swain said.

“They went 2.42 (for 2200m) and that found him out first up, he hit the wall about 100m out.”

“But I thought he would be hard to beat on Saturday because he has improved with that run.”

“He is a bit one-dimensional, he has to be driven for one run, so it will depend on how it pans out.”

“It is a handy wee field, so it will depend on what the others do.”

The Big Lebowski stepped up in grade in his last outing at Ascot Park, running third in the Bluff Cup behind American Eyretime who will be hard to beat again.

THE BIG LEBOWSKI BLUFF CUP REPLAY

That run showed what The Big Lebowski can do at Ascot Park following two strong wins on the bigger Winton track.

“The big track does suit him a lot better, being a big horse, but he gets around our track at home pretty good,” Swain said.

“He just followed them around and ran home good last time.”

“He is just in the zone at the moment, he has strengthened up a bit more and he is a bit more tractable.”

“And he always tries, he might be buggered but he will keep whacking away.”

“He seems well and he is working good and he has got a good draw (1).”

“We don’t know where he will end up, there are a few with gate speed outside him, but he will follow them around and if he gets a lucky break he will get home again.”

Steel Crusher (Bettor’s Delight) looks an upset hope in race 3 for the Swain stable.

Bred on the magical Bettor’s Delight-Christian Cullen cross, the pacer is yet to live up to her breeding.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Jonny Turner, for Harness Racing New Zealand