Junee driver Cam Hart described mighty pacer Swayzee as a once-in-a-lifetime horse after he demolished his rivals and the Penrith track record to bank a $500,000 bonus.
Swayzee made it four wins and a close second in the five-race NSW Carnival of Cups when Hart let him show off for the packed crowd by racing away to a 20.6m romp in the Group 3 Renshaw Cup on Saturday night.
His blistering 1:54.3sec mile rate for the gruelling 2525m trip took almost a second off Tiger Tara’s track record set in the same race in 2017.
“He’s definitely a once-in-a-lifetime horse. The resume he’s got and the ride he’s taken Jase (Grimson, trainer) and the owners has been amazing for our careers,” Hart said.
“It was an incredible atmosphere and to have such a great horse here (Penrith), I wanted to open him up and put on a show for the big crowd.”
Jase said he was in unreal order since the Miracle Mile and ready to run a great race.
“I have to pinch myself every time I drive him, he’s such an amazing animal, nothing like I’ve driven before.
“It’s such a great ride when you’re sitting behind him. He’s such a powerhouse and it’s such a privilege to drive him.”
Swayzee joined Grimson’s stable in mid-2023 and has raced 29 times for him for 22 wins, four seconds, a third and two fourths. Including last night’s bonus, he has won $2,645,793. The seven-year-old’s major wins have been the past two NZ Cups, last year’s Victoria Cup, this year’s Hunter Cup and the 2023 Blacks A Fake.
Owner Mick Boots said Swayzee would have a short let-up before chasing another first in his career, a trip to Perth for the $1.25m Group 1 Nullarbor at Gloucester Park on April 25. It will see him clash again with the emerging Don Hugo, who beat him in the Miracle Mile when Swayzee was held up in traffic and desperately unlucky.
A stars Minstrel and Mister Smartee, along with defending champion Catch A Wave, will be other key Nullarbor runners.
“He’s never been better and I can’t wait for the rest of the big races this year,” Hart said.
Beyond Perth, Swayzee will be one of the star attractions of the revamped Brisbane InterDominion series at Albion Park in July.
In other news, trainer Andy Gath said his classy trotting mare I’m Ready Jet booked a trip to NZ for the $NZ600,000 TAB Trot slot race on April 25 after her impressive first-up win at Melton last night.
“Pat (Driscoll) owns a slot in the race and he wants her to go,” Gath said.
“We just needed to see her come back after the break and run well. She’s got the (Group 1) LaCoocaracha for mares’ only next Saturday and then there’s a flight to Auckland on March 27.
“She’ll just have that one run in NZ because there’s a $100,000 Group 1 race for mares’ (Macarthur Mile) at Menangle in May.”
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