The harness racing world may have just witnessed one of the greatest battles in the sport’s modern history, as Swayzee claimed the 2025 A.G. Hunter Cup for NSW, edging out younger brother Leap To Fame and shattering the track record in the process.
The Jason Grimson-trained seven-year-old was sent out a $5 chance after drawing wide on the second row. Main danger and younger brother Leap To Fame was confined to being buried deep on the pegs after drawing eight.
The Cam Hart driven two-time New Zealand Cup winner was able to ease his way to the top after the Mark Jones trained Tact Mcleod was the early front-runner
Swayzee quickly found the top as they passed the post for the first time while the Grant Dixon trained and driven Leap To Fame was forced to sit midfield.
Dixon moved on the winner of over three-million-dollars and found himself in the running line with no cover sitting third with Swayzee still leading proceedings.
As the pair turned for home it was a neck and neck battle with Leap To Fame looming up alongside the Cam Hart driven charge. The 2024 Victoria Cup winner was able to hang on and add a A.G Hunter Cup to his already glowing resume. The Cran and Chriss Dalgety-trained Republican Party rounded out the placings.
The emphatic win also broke the A.G Hunter Cup track record set in 2019 by Tango Tara (1:53.2) with Swayzee setting Melton Entertainment Park alight in a mile rate of 1.51.9.
Master trainer Jason Grimson was still in awe as he claimed his thirteenth Group 1 victory at just 31 years of age.
“That was pretty cool to watch, seeing all those good horses go to the line like that, I am just glad he stuck his head out when he did, but it is just an incredible time,” Grimson said.
Meanwhile, Watts Up Partytime has stunned punters twice in one night, winning both the heats and the final of the Group 1 $250,000 Great Southern Star at massive odds.
The Andy Gath-trained squaregaiter took out the heat in at an opening quote of $26 before a powerful performance to outrun Inter Dominion winner The Locomotive at $81 to give the master trainer his fifth Great Southern Star victory.
“Not in our wildest dreams did we think he would win it,” Gath said.
“Some of the others were expected, I saw him three fence and saw him travelling and thought we would be really unlucky, but he is just a short course specialist – he is a lovely horse.
Driver Kate Gath couldn’t believe her luck winning the Group 1 feature for the trotters on Sportsbet A.G. Hunter Cup night.
“What an outstanding effort by the little fella and I didn’t see this happening tonight,” Kate Gath said.
The short priced The Locomotive finished second while the Marg and Paddy Lee-prepared Keayang Chucky rounded out the placings.
