Tara Murray with Lachlan Mitchell
Swayzee kept in the family when he demolished his rivals in Saturday night’s $300,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup at Melton.
The older half-brother to Leap To Fame, who was pre-race favourite for the cup before being shock race-eve scratching.
Cam Hart, Swayzee’s driver, made it his night as he came from a back row draw to work to the front and stay there.
Swayzee held on to beat stablemate Curly James just 0.4sec outside the track record.
Hart said it was pretty special to come away with the cup.
“Unbelievable, especially after that performance,” he said Harness Racing Victoria.
“Jase [trainer Jason Grimson] said he was as good as he’s ever been and I probably took confidence out of the battle that he and Leap the Fame have had before and they’ve run the arms off the clock with him not here.
“I thought I would drive him like the best horse and he certainly was.”
After a stunning sectional ride, Hart had no fear that Swayzee had already run its race.
“Once he gets in that gear he can sustain it. I know the horse pretty well.”
Hart said the win was extra special to do it with Grimson, who he has worked with the past three years.
The pair are great mates.
Elsewhere, trotting juggernaut Just Believe has added another group 1 to his incredible CV with a second Bill Collins Trotters Sprint.
The Jess Tubbs-trained squaregaiter didn’t have things his own way and had to fight of the challengers, the Chris Lang-prepared Ollivici and the John Justice-trained Mufasa Metro to salute by 1.4m.
Driver Greg Sugars was confident his charge would find a second that winning edge.
“I knew he would rally, cause he always does fight so hard,” Sugars said.
“I was a bit concerned when Chris (Lang) pushed the button on Ollivici upon straightening and I thought we had a bit of a fight on our hands here.”
“We were pretty happy with him going in after a five-week break, but he was going to be slightly vulnerable tonight, to win in the way we did, it was very pleasing.”
Majority owner, Malcolm Wells was once again stunned by the his pride and joy .
“I have owned horses since 1976, but nothing even close to this. He is a beautiful horse to be involved with and he has got a never say die attitude,” Wells said.
Wells’ had his doubts if his star trotter would get the job done.
“When Ollivici kicked I thought geez we are going to be in trouble, but he never gives up, he is just a magnificent horse,” he said.
French import and newest acquisition to the Andy Gath stable, Callmethebreeze finished right at the back of the field after breaking gait with 150m to go.
The Northern Hemisphere-import was forced to spend most of the trip three wide, before stumbling in the concluding stages.
Ollivici and the Ewa Justice-driven Mufasa Metro rounded out the minor placings.
