By Adam Hamilton
In the most extraordinary of twists, star Aussie pacer Swayzee is set to return to defend his $1m IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup crown at Addington next Tuesday.
Uncertainty over long-time favourite and Swayzee’s half-brother Leap To Fame’s trip, prompted the stunning change of plans by trainer Jason Grimson.
Grimson confirmed he and owner Mick Boots would make the required $NZ28,500 late entry fee for Swayzee before cut-off time for the final acceptance payment tomorrow (Tuesday).
Adding to the theatre, Swayzee will race in the $60,000 Cherry City Cup at Young on Friday night before boarding a plane to Auckland and then on to Christchurch on Sunday.
It will mean Swayzee will have a seven-hour return road trip to Young on Friday – just four days before the NZ Cup – before embarking on two flights to get from Sydney to Christchurch.
Swayzee hasn’t raced since his powerhouse win in the Group 1 Victoria Cup at Melton on October 12.
Grimson had previously ruled out returning to NZ so he can focus on chasing a $1 million bonus for winning all five legs of the NSW Carnival of Cups.
Swayzee won the opening leg of the series at Parkes on September 20 and Friday night’s race is Young is the second leg.
Ideally, Grimson wanted to wait until a final decision on Leap To Fame’s trip, but he doesn’t have that luxury with the final field declared on Wednesday.
Leap To Fame, who was scratched from the Victoria Cup Swayzee won because of a virus, was pulled off a planned flight to NZ last weekend because of another health scare.
His trainer-driver Grant Dixon had another blood test done today and tomorrow’s results will determine whether he takes Leap To Fame to NZ.
“He seems great. I can’t fault him. He’ll fast work in the morning and then it all comes down to how the blood look. If they’re good, he’ll go,” he said.
Betting on the Cup was thrown into chaos with the Swayzee news.
Swayzee has been added to the NZ Cup market at $2.80. Leap To Fame eased from $1.70 to $2 as a result.
The best Kiwi-trained chance is Merlin at $3.50.
