FRESH from a Group 1 double at Menangle last Saturday, superstar NSW driver Cam Hart heads back to Auckland on Friday night.
It will be the third time in as many weeks Hart has crossed the ditch to drive champion stayer Swayzee.
The eight-year-old has finished third in his past two runs, the Taylor Mile and Roy Purdon Memorial, and gets to a more suitable 2700m trip for Friday night’s $100,000 Group 1 Messenger.
“This was always going to be the race he had the best chance in over the longer distance and with two runs under his belt around Alexandra Park,” trainer Jason Grimson said.
Hart, who snared Group 1 wins on Captains Mistress and Arrhythmia at Menangle last Saturday night, will be desperate to use gate one to hold the lead on Swayzee this week.
There’s no doubt the gelding has been showing more gate speed than ever, but it’s questionable whether it’s helping him finish off his races.
But Hart has no option but to throw everything at holding the lead from the pole in the small eight-horse field on Friday.
Emerging Kiwi stars Got The Chocolates and The Lazarus Effect, who both beat home Swayzee last Friday, are the big dangers again.
Especially the immensely exciting Got The Chocolates, who came from a seemingly imposition position to win last week.
The John Dunn-trained four-year-old has gate two and gets the chance to drop in behind and stalk Swayzee if the Aussie can the pole to lead.
The Lazarus Effect has early speed and will start from barrier five.
While The Lazarus Effect has been nominated for the Brisbane Inter Dominion, Dunn has ruled an Aussie trip for Got The Chocolates this year.
It’s a different story for another young Kiwi star, Marketplace, who also steps out on Friday night.
The Regan Todd-trained four-year-old, who had a stirring rivalry with Got The Chocolates last season, should be far too good from the pole in the $60,000 Group 2 Superstars at Addington.
Pending that performance, Todd is looking seriously at a Queensland raid with the $350,000 Group 1 Rising Sun at Albion Park on July 4 as the target.
Queensland has also been touted for NZ’s superstar three-year-old, Jumal, who made it 10 wins from 12 starts in last Friday night’s Group 1 Northern Derby in Auckland.
Trainer Steven Reid said Queensland was “a viable option”, but wouldn’t be discussed any further until Jumal tackles the Group 1 NZ Sires’ Stake final at Addington on May 22.
