Swayzee readies for race day return

By Adam Hamilton 

Superstar driver Cam Hart wants one last crack at the NZ Trotting Cup with champion stayer Swayzee.

And he’s growing in confidence that the old boy still has it in him.

Swayzee, who famously won the Cup back-to-back in 2023 and ’24, is nearing a racetrack return after a stint on the sidelines with tying up issues, stemming from his extended NZ campaign earlier this year.

“He’s well advanced. He’s had three fast workouts now and isn’t far off,” Hart said. “I’d love nothing more than to have more go at the NZ Cup with him.”

While Swayzee is rising nine, he did lead throughout and upstage Leap To Fame in the Hunter Cup in February.

As expected, wonder mare Captains Mistress was not nominated for the NZ Cup.

But her trainer Jason Grimson has three nominations, with Swayzee joined by Minos and Rakero Rocket.

While Minos had time to freshen-up after a fantastic Inter Dominion series, Rakero Rocket will be ready to return to races after he trials at Menangle tomorrow (Wednesday).

“He’s had a good break and seems to have come back really well,” Hart said.

Captains Mistress has also returned to the stable.

“It’s so good having her back in. The Victoria Cup is her target and then Jase (Grimson) and Mick (Boots) will make their plans from there I guess,” Hart said.

Outside of Grimson’s trio, champion pacer Leap To Fame, defending champion Kingman and star Queenslander The Janitor are the other Aussie nominations for the NZ Cup.

Of them, only The Janitor looks doubtful.

In trotting ranks, champion mare Keayang Zahara headlines the six Aussie nominations for the $400,000 Group 1 Renwick Farms Dominion.

The five-year-old will trial at Terang next Tuesday as she builds towards a racetrack return. Her first major target is a title defence in the Group 1 Bill Collins Sprint at Melton on October 17.

Defending champion Gus is also being set for a return to Addington, having been freshened up since his Brisbane Inter Dominion win on July 18.

Inter Dominion runner-up Gotfeelingsyouknow and his Chris Svanosio-trained stablemate Lovemeto have also been nominated.

Keayang Zahara’s classy stablemate Jilliby Dreamlover and another star Victorian mare Rockinwithattitude round out the Aussies nominated.