Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Talented five-year-old pacer Swingband has competed in nine group events from his past ten starts, including a strong finishing effort when third behind Catch A Wave and Minstrel in the Nullarbor slot race and racing in the WA Pacing Cup and Fremantle Cup.
He will reappear after a four-week absence in considerably weaker company when he begins from the No. 4 barrier in the $25,000 You Name It, We Fund It Conditioned Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night, with Kyle Symington in the sulky.
Swingband last raced when he trailed the pacemaker Pinny Tiger in the 2536m WA Pacing Cup on November 8 when he was eighth in the middle stages before starting a three-wide move 1000m from home and getting to fourth with 220m to travel. But he then wilted badly to finish tenth, nine lengths behind the winner Minstrel.
His trainer Ryan Bell disclosed this week that Swingband suffered a leg injury during the Cup.
“He hit himself really badly on the side of his shin just below his knee,” explained Bell. “And this turned into a haematoma. He must have given himself a good whack, and that’s obviously why he didn’t run on. He went terrible.
“We lanced it and kept the injury bandaged, but he hasn’t missed any work. I’m happy with him and he should run a forward race. It’s a winnable race in which he is capable of leading. But he doesn’t have to lead to win.”
Dominus Factum (barrier three) and Goodfellaz (barrier eight) appear Swingband’s chief rivals, with the Aiden De Campo-trained Dominus Factum racing keenly and blessed with abundant gate speed.
Dominus Factum led when second to Jawsoflincoln over 1730m three starts ago, and he raced three back on the pegs and was hampered for room in the closing stages when fifth behind Gee Heza Sport over 2536m at his latest appearance a month ago.
Goodfellaz, trained by Debra Lewis and driven by her husband Chris, gave a dashing frontrunning display to score an easy victory over Navy Street, rating 1.55.5 over 2130m last Friday night.