By Adam Hamilton
Jason Grimson is growing in confidence his dual New Zealand Cup winner Swayzee can add a Miracle Mile to his stunning CV at Menangle tonight (11.45pm).
Many felt Swayzee, one of the great modern day stayers, wouldn’t adapt to sprint racing, but he proved them wrong with a stunning 1min48.6sec mile qualifying win at Menangle last Saturday night.
But a dramatic twist in the Miracle Mile barrier draw has the doubters emerging again.
Swayzee drew gate two, which looked ideal, but moments later emergency Bulletproof Boy drew one. It means Swayzee will move down the pole if, as expected, the emergencies come out.
“One’s not bad, but two would have been a lot better,” Grimson said on Melbourne radio SENTrack. “He’s got more gate speed than people realise though.”
Grimson surprised by saying he was confident Swayzee had enough early speed to hold-out key rival and noted quick beginner Don Hugo, who will start next door in gate two. Swayzee is a $5 third favourite behind Leap To Fame ($2.15) and Don Hugo ($3.20).
“He (Swayzee) did hold out Kanena Provlima once and he’s very quick out,” he said. “I think he’s got enough speed to hold Don Hugo. It’s very hard to cross when you’re right next to another horse.
“Tact McLeod is the quickest out and he’s the one I think is most likely to get across, if anything can.
“I’ll leave Cam (Hart) to make the decisions, but he’s got to come out as quickly as he can.”
Grimson agreed a key in the early stages of the race was staying in front of favourite and defending champion, Leap To Fame, who will start from out wide in gate seven, which he won from last year.
“I think we can and it’ll be important because we know we can beat him when we’re in front of him,” he said.
Swayzee trails Leap to Fame 2-3 in their five clashes. His two wins have come when he has drawn better and settled in front of Leap To Fame.
“Leading is the place we’d love to be, but he’s more versatile than people realise,” Grimson said.
“Just because he’s been out and rolling in most of his races, people think that’s how he has to be driven, but he’ll go great off a helmet (with a sit). That’s how we work him.”
Given the amazing depth and strength of this Miracle Mile, Grimson thinks they can test the race and Australasian record 1min46.9sec if conditions suit.
“I’m sure Swayzee can go low 1min47sec or even beat the record and Larry (Leap To Fame) can, too,” he said.
“I’d love them to break the record. It would be cool to be part of it.”
For all his stunning success in the past four years, Grimson said winning a Miracle Mile would top it all.
“It’s the race I want. It’s my home track, we train here and race here and it’s a race with such history,” he said. “It’s so hard just to get into it.”
Grimson also has former pin-up pacer Captain Ravishing in the race.
“He can surprise them. He went super last week and has bounced through the race even better than I expected,” he said.
“If he can position up handy, without doing any early work, he’ll be right in the finish.”
Grimson had two runners in last year’s Miracle Mile, but his chances plummeted when second favourite Himanameisjeff galloped while dashing to the lead and lost all chance.
His other runner Frankie Ferocious charged home from the rear to run fourth.