SUPERSTAR NSW driver Cam Hart is poised for a massive Trans-Tasman weekend.
The 27-year-old will head to Auckland again on Friday to team with champion stayer Swayzee that night in the $NZ100,000 Group 1 Roy Purdon Memorial (2200m) at Alexandra Park.
Then it’s an early flight back to Sydney on Saturday morning for some key drives at the huge Menangle Group 1 night.
The Menangle headline act is wonder mare Captains Mistress, who will dominate betting in Australia’s premier mares’ race, the $200,000 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Mile.
Hart drove the two Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin-trained NSW Oaks heat winners – Willows Girl and Arrhythmia - last Saturday night and will be aboard one of them, most likely Arrhythmia, in the $150,000 Group 1 final this week.
He can’t wait to kick-start the weekend in Auckland.
“Obviously I went over last week and drove him (Swayzee) and you couldn’t ask for a bigger run (third in the Group 1 Taylor Mile),” he said.
“He drew wide and the mile racing is so tricky over there because the first bend comes up so quickly.
“He never stopped working and was still so strong late. It was a huge run and getting out to 2200m this week is more in his wheelhouse.
“He showed he is certainly as good as any of them with last week’s run and hopefully we can draw better this week, too.
“Then it’s back to Menangle and the chance to drive the awesome mare (Captains Mistress) again.”
Captains Mistress was stunning winning her first six starts for Hart and Menangle trainer Jason Grimson, including two at Group 1 level, before a luckless fifth when badly held up for a run in the $1 million Miracle Mile on March 14.
“She’s something else,” Hart said. “I’ve said it before, she’s the fastest and most exciting horse I’ve driven.”
Even though there’s some nice mares in this race, especially Eye Keep Smiling, I think she (Captains Mistress) is a class above them.
“I’m not worried about her being first-up. Jase (Grimson) has her ready. She had a trial last week and I drove her in work this morning (Monday) and she felt at least as good as ever.”
Hart said he would wait for the barrier draw and talks with Stewart and Tonkin before landing on his Oaks drive.
“They’re both lovely fillies. Arrhythmia might be slightly stronger and won so well, but Willows Girl is flying at the moment,” he said.
Hart will then be back to Auckland for a third successive week to drive Swayzee in the $100,000 Group 1 Messenger at Alexandra Park on May 8.
