Bell Has Big Opinion of 2YO Swingband
The connections of Swingband after his win. Photo Credit- Photography by Jodie Hallows
Swingband resumed after a short let up and didn’t waste any time getting back into the winners’ circle after starting in race one at Northam over the 2190m trip as the $1.36 favourite. Beginning from barrier nine, he was put in to the race in the early stages, working his way three wide to land the breeze position, where he settled throughout, going on to run down the leader by 3.9m in 2:01:4 for trainer Ryan Bell and driver Aiden Decampo, bringing up his second win from just three starts.
“He shows all the signs of a better than average horse, we just need to teach him to race.”
The impressive two-year-old who started his racing campaign in July with a 1:54:2 maiden win at Pinjarra was unsuccessful in the Group 1 2YO Golden Slipper last start, but after having a small spell in the paddock, Bell has confirmed that the well-conditioned horse will be the type to have small let ups to avoid him getting too big.
“His stable name is Tank for a reason,” Bell joked.
“I’ve always thought he was my best two-year-old and that’s not being disrespectful to Whataretheodds who proved he was one of the better ones in this year’s crop, he just needed time because of how heavy he is,”
“If good health, soundness and luck stay on our side, we will have some fun.” Bell said.
Silver Star Lombo kicked off the first leg of Shane Quadrio’s training double on the night, with the three-year-old filly bringing up her third win in just four starts. In a mile rate of 1:59:9, she settled at the rear of the field throughout, with a strategic drive from Emily Suvaljko seeing the filly widest on the home turn, hitting the lead where it matters most, claiming the win over the front runners by 3m.
After changing a few things after his last start, Doc Holliday NZ saluted for Michael Young and Gary Hall Jnr, at just his second start in WA since making the move from New Zealand in early July. Settling at the rear of the field, the big striding horse worked his way three wide with two laps to go, to settle in the breeze, coming away for the win by a margin of 12.9m in 1:57:9 over the 2190m journey. With no plans set for the four-year-old, Young will be putting the horses through his classes but does expect he will be a city class horse in time to come.
Apologize has been racing in good form as of late, with the four-year-old only failing to salute the judge just the once in his 14 starts since making the move to WA from South Australia. Trained by Adriana McAuliffe and driven by Chris Voak saluted at his first start in WA back in February and ended a losing sequence of 12 on Saturday night for the duo after leading all the way from barrier one in 2:00:5 over the 2190m trip.
It was only a small field with two late scratching’s in the fifth on the card, but there was still plenty of value, with the $6 shot Star Of The Class running down the short-priced favourite Henrik Larsson NZ to win comfortably by 2.5m. After settling last in the single file field, Harper was first to make a move, working his way to the front after the bell, the two were neck and neck until 50m from home, where he got the advantage and scored the win for trainer Peter Anderson, giving owner Allwood Stud Farm and owning double on the card.
The second instalment of Quadrio’s training double came up in race six, with Riverina Flash scoring his first win in three starts since entering the new stable. Placing at his last two starts, the $1.45 favourite settled one-out-and-two-back, with reinsman Shannon Suvaljko making his run with 500m to go, going on to win by a neck over the 2190m in 2:04:7.
Marie Long NZ redeemed herself after her last start at Pinjarra where she broke and galloped her way out contention, claiming her maiden win in the last at Northam in a time of 1:58:1 over the 1780m. Starting from barrier six, she was on her best behaviour and settled in the one-one position, making her run with 600m to go to win with ease by 17.9m for trainer and driver Aldo Cortopassi.
Ashleigh Paikos