Ken Casellas | Photo: Gloucester Park Harness Racing
Star three-year-old Swingband is one of talented reinsman Michael Grantham’s favourite pacers, but he has failed in a bid to handle the Ryan Bell-trained gelding in the $20,250 Noah and Cruz George Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
This left up-and-coming 20-year-old Kyle Symington the opportunity to drive Swingband for the first time in a race.
Grantham has driven Swingband at his past eleven starts for seven wins, one second, two thirds and a retired performance after breaking into a gallop. Grantham received a 16-day suspension for causing interference with Swingband last Friday week, and he was disappointed when his application for a three-day reduction of the penalty was denied.
“This will give Kyle a chance to drive Swingband this week,” said Bell. “He does as much work with Swingband at home as I do.”
Swingband, a winner at ten of his 16 starts, automatically drew the outside barrier (No. 9) under the preferential barrier conditions of the race.
“It’s an awkward draw, but I can’t fault Swingband, and I expect him to be hard to beat,” said Bell. “He has come on from his first-up run (a victory over The Miki Taker and Tricky Miki) extremely well. And he will benefit further from this week’s run.”
Capel trainer Aiden De Campo’s two runners, The Miki Taker (barrier three on the back line) and Floewriter (barrier No. 8) are among the State’s best three-year-olds and will provide Swingband with plenty of opposition.
De Campo, who is serving a brief suspension, has engaged Stuart McDonald to drive Floewriter and Trent Wheeler to handle The Miki Taker, who is part-owned by Wheeler’s wife Emily.
“Both Floewriter and The Miki Taker can play a part if they get the right run,” said De Campo. “Floewriter is going really well, and I’ve been happy with his first two runs since a spell, while The Miki Taker’s first two runs after resuming from a spell have been good.”
Floewriter, who has excellent gate speed and is capable of bursting to an early lead from his wide barrier, has won at ten of his 19 starts. He dashed to an early lead from barrier six and went on to win easily over 2242m at Narrogin last Saturday night. He burst to the front after 600m and set the pace before winning from Longreach Bay at Pinjarra at his previous outing, his first appearance for five months.
The Miki Taker has won at eight of his 17 starts. He ran on strongly from last in a field of six to get up and win first-up from Onesmartfella over 2100m at Bunbury on July 27 before he finished strongly when second to Swingband at Gloucester Park last Friday week.
Maungatahi is favourably drawn at barrier one, and trainer-reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green gives the colt a good chance. “He is a nice horse and is honest as the day is long, and I think he will run a mighty race,” said Egerton-Green.