Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Brilliant four-year-old Swingband simply enjoyed a stroll in the park at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he scored a very easy win in the 2130m Beau Rivage Open Through July Pace.
“He is a very good horse who just needs to grow up a bit — and it seems that we’re on the right track,” said trainer Ryan Bell. “He is getting more mature and can go back or forward in his races.
“Aiden (reinsman Aiden De Campo) said that he left the gate real good and drove like a dream. He said that he was jogging the whole way and was bludging. Half-way up the straight he was looking for other runners, but Aiden didn’t bother pulling the plugs.
“In trackwork I can’t split Swingband and Shockwave. They will each have their next start in a fortnight and will have a couple more starts before having a let-up and then resume training and getting ready for the summer.”
Kevin Jeavons, managing part-owner of Swingband, said that the $200,000 Golden Nugget (on December 15) was the long-range plan for the gelding, who boasts a fine record of 25 starts for 13 wins, six placings and stakes of $224,681.
Swingband, the $1.50 favourite, began smartly from barrier five and got to the front after 150m. After opening quarters of 30.2sec. and 29.1sec. he dashed over the final 400m sections in 28.2sec. and 28.4sec. and won by just under two lengths from the $8.50 chance The Mustang, who finished gamely from fifth (on the pegs) at the bell.