Was it brotherly love on Valentine’s Day when Swayzee defeated Leap To Fame in the Hunter Cup?
Was it brotherly love on Valentine’s Day when Swayzee defeated Leap To Fame in the Hunter Cup?
Swayzee denied his younger brother a $1 million bonus by inches at Melton.
by Adam Hamilton
Most people with brothers will say they can be annoying at times.
On Saturday night (Feb. 14), champion pacer Leap To Fame’s older brother Swayzee was $1 million worth of annoying.
For the second successive year, the now 8-year-old Swayzee (Rock N Roll Heaven—Lettucereason) led throughout to upstage Leap To Fame (Bettors Delight—Lettucereason) in the Group 1 Hunter Cup at Melton.
This time, the half-neck margin denied Leap To Fame’s connections a new $1 million bonus of winning four of the six “majors” during Victoria’s revamped Summer of Glory.
It’s the third time in eight clashes Swayzee has beaten Leap To Fame.
Each clash has been epic.
Most felt on the home turn last night that Leap To Fame, who had to sit outside Swayzee like the other two defeats, had his older sibling’s measure.
Not so Leap To Fame’s trainer/driver Grant Dixon.
“I’m not sure I even got in front of him, but I’ve been in that position before I knew he would just keep kicking back Swayzee… and he did,” he said.
As close as it was between Swayzee and Leap To Fame, there was just a nose between the latter and New Zealand’s best pacer Republican Party (Bettors Delight—Democrat Party) for second and third. It was a trifecta (first three placegetters) in the same order as last year.
That photo for second sparked an inquiry when one of Republican Party’s part-owners, Greg Ayres, argued it showed “a discrepancy” and his pacer had finished second.
But stewards stood by the judge’s ruling.
While all that was happening, Swayzee’s team were posing for winning photos.
“It’s just a privilege to drive a horse as good and brave as him,” driver Cam Hart said.
“This is right up there for my greatest moments. Last year’s Hunter Cup was so special, but this was a stronger field again and the build-up to the race was so huge.”
Despite racing in an era dominated by Leap To Fame, Swayzee has won two Hunter Cups, two New Zealand Cups, a Victoria Cup, and a Blacks A Fake.
His leviathan owner Mick Boots, who races more than 300 horses, revealed Swayzee’s career could have been over last May.
“He got really sick with a bowel infection and we weren’t sure he’d make it back,” he said. “It’s a huge credit to [trainer] Jason [Grimson] he’s come back like this.
“This win is a bit of a surprise to me, I didn’t think he’d still be able to do this after what he’d been through, but he really doesn’t like being beaten, does he?”
Grimson said next month’s $1 million Miracle Mile and the Brisbane Inter Dominion series in July were major upcoming targets.
“He’ll have another go at the Miracle Mile and I’d love to get him to the Brisbane Inter Dominion, but I know it all has to end some time,” he said.
A decision on the Miracle Mile for Leap To Fame will be made in the next week or so.
“He’s been away a long time and we just want to get him home [to Queensland] now and then decide what’s next,” Dixon said.
“We’re keen to give the big Cambridge race [$1 million Race by betcha] a go in April, so we’ll think about the Miracle Mile.
“I was so proud of him again tonight. He was great, but that other horse is just so hard to get past.”
The hard luck story of the race was new sensation Kingman, who was checked and galloped soon after the start from a second line draw.
His effort to recover, circle the field and finish a close sixth was enormous.
Kingman (Always B Miki—Gotta Go Dali Queen) will progress to the Miracle Mile and is also being set for Cambridge.
KEAYANG ZAHARA WINS GREAT SOUTHERN STAR, CASHES BONUS
The world awaits Australia’s trotting queen Keayang Zahara (Volstead—Keayang Yankee).
The 5-year-old scored her biggest win yet and banked a $500,000 bonus in the process when she cruised home in Saturday’s Group 1 Great Southern Star at Melton.
Along with her actual prize money from winning the Great Southern Star heat and final last night, she earned almost $640,000 for the night.
Many are already pushing for co-trainers Marg and Paddy Lee to consider this year’s Elitloppet, but that won’t be happening.
“Not this year,” Paddy said. “We’ve got a plan mapped out and it’s another year racing here before we look overseas.”
The Great Southern Star proved a monstrous triumph for the Lee clan with wins in both heats and trifecta in the final.
Keayang Zahara worked to the lead from Jilliby Ballerini (Majestic Son—Shesasundon) and beat her by 8.6 meters with a further 8.1 meters away to Jilliby Dreamlover (Love You—A Jewel In The Crown) in third place.
“I’m more thrilled with Marg [Lee] and Paddy [Lee] than I am myself,” driver Jason Lee said. “They’ve been wanting and trying to win this race for five or six years.
“These are the races you dream of being in, let alone winning. You watch others win them and think how cool it would be.
“To win and get the trifecta is incredible.”
Keayang Zahara’s next major targets are the Group 1 Grand Prix at Melton on Feb. 28, the $600,000 TAB Trot at Cambridge in New Zealand on April 10 and the Brisbane Inter Dominion in July.
“There’s a couple of other big Group 1’s in New Zealand after the Cambridge race, but we’ll play those by ear,” Paddy said.
CAPTAINS KNOCK SCORES $500,000 BONUS
Melton wasn’t the only Aussie meeting offering a big bonus over the weekend.
Classy New South Wales pacer Captains Knock (Captaintreacherous—Scarlett Finn) banked his owners a $500,000 bonus by winning the fourth leg of the five-race NSW Carnival of Cups series at Albury on Friday night (Feb. 13).
It made him four-for-four after winning the opening leg at Wagga on Nov. 14, adding leg two at Newcastle on Dec. 5, and then the third leg at Bathurst on Jan. 30.
Captains Knock can stretch the bonus to $1 million if he adds the $60,000 Renshaw Cup – the fifth and final leg – at Penrith on March 20.
Last year was the first year NSW offered the bonus and champion stayer Swayzee earned $500,000 by winning four legs and finishing second in the other at Albury.
The only downside of the series is that two key legs – Newcastle and Albury – clash with other major Australian races, the Group 1 Blacks A Fake at Albion Park (Dec. 6) and last night’s Group 1 Hunter Cup.
CANADA’S MACDONALD RETURNING DOWN UNDER
Record-breaking Canadian driver James MacDonald headlines a stellar line-up in Australia’s second Ladbrokes Ultimate Driver Championship at Albion Park later this week.
MacDonald is fresh in the minds of harness fans Down Under after triumph in the World Driving Championship held in New Zealand late last year.
He returns Down Under just weeks after an historic fifth successive Canadian Driver of the Year crown at the O’Brien Awards.
MacDonald brings the serious international flavour to this year’s Ultimate Driver Championship, following Dexter Dunn, Bjorn Goop, and Yannick Gingras competing in last year’s inaugural series at Brisbane’s Albion Park.
“It was the talk of North American harness racing last year with Dexter and Yannick in it,” MacDonald said. “I was one of many who watched it really closely and loved it.
“I jumped at the chance when the offer came to head back Down Under for it.”
The series consists of 20 races across two nights, Friday (Feb. 20) and Saturday (Feb. 21) and boasts $350,000 in prize money.
MacDonald will renew his rivalry with champion Aussie driver Gary Hall, Jr., who finished second to him in the World Driving Championship.
“Gary is such a great guy, I can’t wait to line back up with him… hopefully it will be a repeat performance of what happened in New Zealand,” MacDonald said with a laugh.
Champion U.S. trainer Ron Burke is part of the syndicate with the slot MacDonald will drive in. Summit Bloodstock and Aaron Bain Racing are also in the slot.
The other international driver is New Zealand superstar Zac Butcher, who is competing for the first time.
The lineup of Aussies is a genuine who’s who with Luke McCarthy, Cam Hart, and James Herbertson all new to the lineup from last year.
Trista Dixon, co-trainer of champion pacer Leap To Fame, a Group 1 winner with over 420 wins, is the lone female.
Queensland young gun Angus Garrard, just 22, is back to defend his crown after upstaging his older and more decorated rivals last year.
Prolific NSW driver Robbie Morris, a 34-year-old with over 2300 wins, completes the field.
