Bell Happy To Make Shockwave Comparison
Swingband’s dominant win in last Friday night’s Group 2 Team Bond-Pearl Classic (2130m) has added to trainer Ryan Bell’s thoughts he could have another star in his stable.
The Alta Christiano gelding was dominant in the $50,000 feature, leading all the way to score by 17.5m.
Bell, who trains Golden Nugget winner Shockwave, admits he’s started comparing Swingband to the other superstar in his stable.
“It’s only been in the last couple of months that I’ve started to think about it,” he told The Trots WA.
“It is hard to compare them because Shockwave had an interrupted campaign as a three-year-old and didn’t win a major race at that age.
“Swingband has won four $50,000 races as a three-year-old.
“The other thing to remember is Shockwave had to compete with Major Trojan, Bletchley Park, Franco Edward and Eloquent Mach and it was an exceptional year.
“Swingband is faster and tougher than what Shockwave was at three, but there’s no tougher horse now than Shockwave.”
A winner at nine of his 15 starts, Swingband has scored wins in the APG Sales Classic, Caduceus Club Classic, APG Gold Bullion and Pearl Classic in the past three months.
Swingband is set to be aimed at the Westbred Classic and the WA Derby in September and November respectively.
Bell said he was happy Swingband could go to the paddock off the back of an easier run than what he’d been enduring in the previous month.
“We didn’t even pull the plugs on Friday night,” he said.
“He’s gone to have three weeks out at Trevor and Colleen Lindsay’s place and that will give him a decent break to the Westbred.
“It was so relieving to see him have an easy run.
“His gate speed was questioned but it’s easy to forget he held out Rock On Top over a mile two starts back and he was just too fresh when he galloped out in the heat.”
Meanwhile, Bell said he was hoping to have Shockwave back racing by October, as he continues his recovery from a tendon injury on his off-side front leg.
“He’s having his third week back jogging and his tendon looks terrific,” he said.
“He hasn’t missed a beat from each scan.”
WATCH – Swingband’s Pearl Classic win
Tim Walker
Image – Hamilton Content Creators