Swayzee takes another step towards NZ Cup campaign

Boom pacer Swayzee (Rock N Roll Heaven) is on target for his New Zealand Cup harness racing campaign.

The Jason Grimson-trained pacer resumed from a spell at Menangle last Saturday night, winning the Les Chant Free-For-all, clocking 1:52.4 in the 2300m feature.

Posted outside the leader, reinsman Jack Trainor was impressed on his first race drive behind the gelding.

“He couldn’t have been any more impressive and it’s a good sign leading into the NZ Cup campaign,” said Trainor on this week’s The Sprint Lane Podcast.

“It was a tough deserving win.

“When he was parked early, I didn’t think it was ideal to be there but the way the horse felt, it never felt like he was going to get beaten.

“Every time I asked him for a bit more he just kept giving.”

SWAYZEE REPLAY

Swayzee was first up since winning The Blacks A Fake Championship in July where he beat his half-brother Leap To Fame.

This was his seventh win in-a-row, remaining unbeaten since joining Grimson’s care.

Swayzee’s next target will be to qualify from a standing start.

The 16-time winner is booked to head across to NZ in early November ahead of the NZ Cup on November 14 where he is the second favourite behind local hope Akuta in the time-honoured feature.

Swayzee’s success on Saturday night gave Trainor a driving treble across the program, where he also won Breeders Challenge semi-finals with Nathan Street and Ideal In Dreams.

Trainor caught up with Greg Hayes on Sunday for The Sundhayes Session on The Sprint Lane Podcast – click here to listen.

by Amanda Rando, for HRNSW