CHAMPION stayer Swayzee returned to peak form with an epic Goulburn Cup win described by race caller Fred Hastings as the best race of his 42-year career.
Dual NZ Cup winner Swayzee and reigning Miracle Mile hero Don Hugo locked into a two-horse war for the last 900m of last night’s 2240m Cup.
“Without doubt, in my 42 years of calling, that was probably the greatest race I have ever called. They went to war from the 900m,” Hastings said. “It’s a race I’ll remember ‘til I die.”
It was a true Bonecrusher/Our Waverley Star-like stoush.
The pair started from wide back row barriers but Don Hugo was first to make an early move around the field and Swayzee followed him before sitting outside Don Hugo for the bulk of the race.
Swayzee’s trainer Jason Grimson, driving him for just the second time in a race, really poured the pressure on Don Hugo down the back straight the last time as the pair put a huge gap on their rivals.
“C’mon Goulburn get on your feet and pay tribute to these two superstars – they’re down the back the straight and going for stride for stride, there’s not a struck match between them and they’re 40m in front of the rest … they may well obliterate the track record here,” Hastings said in his call.
Despite having the harder run outside the leader, Swayzee just kept coming at Don Hugo and wore him down in the last 50m to win by 4.1m with another 36m away to third placegetter Donegal Luther.
As Hastings predicted, Swayzee did smash the track record. His 1min53.6sec mile rate took 0.4sec off the previous mark set by Bling It On in the 2020 Goulburn Cup.
It was a timely statement from Swayzee, who has just turned eight, and had gone almost 10 months since last win in the Renshaw Cup at Penrith on March 15, 2025.
A long spell and a couple of setbacks since, had restricted Swayzee to just six runs since and he missed major targets like the Victoria and NZ Cups.
In contrast, Don Hugo went into the race having beaten the great Leap To Fame two starts back in the Group 1 Blacks A Fake at Albion Park on December 6.
Interest now moves to where Swayzee will go next, Victoria or NSW?
Both states have an attractive series of “Cup” races, albeit the prize money is considerably higher across Victoria’s six races, starting on Saturday week at Bendigo.
Given Swayzee’s staying prowess, races like the $100,000 Group 2 Ballarat Cup (January 24), $150,000 Group 1 Cranbourne Cup (January 31), $150,000 Group 1 Kilmore Cup and $250,000 Group 1 Hunter Cup (February 14) all look attractive options.
Swayzee’s stunning return to winning form adds to an already mouth-watering group of open-class stars set to lock horns in coming months.
A likely Hunter Cup field includes Leap To Fame, NZ and Victoria Cup winner Kingman, NZ’s best pacer Republican Party and emerging Queensland star The Janitor.
Swayzee’s win saw him firm to $5 for the Hunter Cup behind Kingman ($2.20) and Leap To Fame ($2.50).
