By Adam Hamilton
Former classy Kiwi pacer Hot And Treacherous ran a booming race against Leap To Fame last week and has the draw to test the Queensland champ again in Saturday night’s $400,000 Group 1 Blacks A Fake (2680m) at Albion Park.
Now in the care of Jack Butler, Hot And Treacherous drew the pole and should be straight behind leader Turn It Up, who will then likely look to take a trail himself.
So, Hot And Treacherous, who boasts two wins and three placings in good company since making Queensland home, will likely be three pegs, which is a terrific spot in feature races around Albion Park.
He’s also got the advantage of Albion Park’s leading driver, Nathan Dawson, in the bike.
Hot And Treacherous is third favourite at $9 behind half-brothers Leap To Fame (gate nine, $1.30) and Swayzee (gate two, $4.50).
Swayzee opened $9 straight after the draw, but was immediately plunged into $4.50 for trainer Jason Grimson and driver Cam Hart.
Swayzee is unbeaten in five runs since switching to Grimson’s stable. He shares the 2138m track record with half-brother Leap To Fame for the 2138m at Albion Park. Both should relish the stretch to 2680m.
“He’s strong. He’ll love the trip. He loves to just bowl along in his races,” Grimson said.
“I’m certainly not afraid of Leap To Fame. I guess we’ll find out who the better brother is on Saturday night.
“My horse has just kept improving with every run for me. We deliberately skipped last week to focus on this race.
“The draw (two) is great for him. He’s not the fastest off the gate, but he can work forward from there, hopefully find the lead and run some quick time.”
Swayzee is by Rock N Roll Heaven, while Leap To Fame is by Bettors Delight. Both are out of Art Major mare Lettucereason.
Grimson will be looking to bounce back from a rare feature race disappointment when his two runners – Betterzippit and I Cast No Shadow – were tailed-out in the Sunshine Sprint last week.
He was angry when Queensland field selectors overlooked Betterzippit for a Blacks A Fake start, taking to social media to vent.
“What’s Expensive Ego done in its last six starts to gain a start? Betterzippit won a million dollar race, went 1:48 and ran second in a Redcliffe Cup and can’t get in.” Grimson tweeted.
Leap To Fame’s draw is his best so far across four feature races during this Carnival. From nine he is two-out on the back row and follows out Swayzee in the running line.
Star Kiwi-owned mare Amore Vita, the lone mare in the race after her huge Group 1 Golden Girl win last week, fared poorly from gate 12.
As did her stablemate, Mach Dan (11), who was wiped-out by traffic last week in the Sunshine Sprint.
Dual Miracle Mile runner-up Spirit Of St Louis, who ran a terrific second in the Sunshine Sprint, is a $14 shot this week from gate 10.
Blacks a Fake barrier draw : Front row: Hot And Treacherous, Swayzee, Turn It Up, Expensive Ego, Magnificent Storm, Manilla Playboy (emerg), Big Wheels. Back row: Blacksadance, Leap To Fame, Spirit Of St Louis, Mach Dan, Amore Vita, Taipo.
