Swayzee NZ Cup bound after massive Group One win

Next (big) stop New Zealand.

That’s Jason Grimson’s plan with his latest pacing star Swayzee  (Rock N Roll Heaven) after upstaging Queensland harness racing sensation Leap To Fame in last night’s $400,000 Group 1 Blacks A Fake (2680m) at Albion Park.

“The New Zealand Cup is the target … that’s the next big one,” Grimson said.

“It actually was before tonight because he’s such a great stayer this horse. He’s actually not that fast, but he can just keep rolling along.

“I’m not sure what we’ll do before then or even if we’ll come back here (Brisbane) for the Inter Dominion, but we’re going back to NZ.”

SWAYZEE REPLAY

Grimson and his stable driver Cam Hart have unfinished business after then stable star Majestic Cruiser ran second in last year’s NZ Cup.

“I can’t wait to get back, I really want to get back. Last year, getting so close, made me want to get back and win it,” Hart said.

“This horse is an ideal NZ Cup horse. He’s so strong.

“Nothing will beat him if he finds the front and even if he’s got to sit parked, he’d give it a great shake.

“He’s as good as any of the top horses I’ve driven, may be the best of them in time.”

The win gave Hart and Grimson back-to-back Blacks A Fake wins after Majestic Cruiser scored an upset victory at $17 last year.

“I think it’s only my third drive in the race,” Hart said.

Grimson boomed before the race that wasn’t scared of Leap To Fame and “we’ll find out who the better brother is.”

Swayzee, a half-brother to Leap To Fame, quickly found the front and Hart played catch-me-if-you can, dashing through splits of the last mile in 28.7, 28.5, 27.3 and 27.6sec.

“He loved just rolling and he still felt strong on the line,” Hart said.

“You’ve gotta give credit to Leap To Fame as well, he was enormous after doing the work and chasing.

“It was a great race to be part of.”

Swayzee’s 1min53.9sec mile rate for the long trip was just 0.1sec outside Colt Thirty One’s track record.

Leap To Fame’s effort was monstrous, especially given he copped a check and a flat tyre at the 300m.

The tube burst, wrapped around the rim and effectively seized the wheel so Leap To Fame had to drag it.

“Not much went right tonight,” owner Kevin Seymour said. “But I don’t think he lost any admirers at all when you consider everything.”

Leap To Fame will now have a brief freshen-up before targeting the world’s richest harness race, the $2.1mil TAB Eureka at Menangle on September 2.

“I guess it adds to the intrigue of everything,” Seymour said.

What added more to the intrigue was the shock defeat of Miracle Mile winner Catch A Wave at Melton earlier last night.

The four-year-old led and was gunned down late by a narrow margin by his half-brother and stablemate Yambukian.

It was a big upset.

But Leap To Fame and Catch A Wave have plenty of time to bounce back to winning form before the TAB Eureka.

For complete race results, click here.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing New Zealand