Noel’s much-loved Saint to chase special Swan Hill success

Noel Watson has enjoyed many highlights on the racetrack with his wonderful fast class pacer Torrid Saint, but it’ll be something extra special if the six-year-old can prevail in Friday night’s 3SH Swan Hill Pacing Cup.

Watson, who bred and owns the Julie Douglas-trained gelding, is a life member and current part of the Swan Hill Trotting Club committee, and admits it’s “very exciting” to have a live chance in the Group 3 country feature.

Torrid Saint is the sole runner off the back row in the $35,000 event, which is staged over the staying trip of 2790m.

The son of Shadow Play has had well over 100 starts, but seems to be racing at somewhere near his best given a recent victory in the Smoken Up Sprint – his first triumph at Group level.

“It’s interesting that it has just taken him that time to develop physically, just to get himself right to the position where he can now do some work, which he did in the Smoken Up. He kicked away on the corner – not arrogant – but just with his sheer speed. Certainly, the race was run to suit…,” Watson, a passionate St Kilda fan, said.

“Eric Anderson, Glenn and Julie (Douglas) did a terrific job in so much as that they decided to spell the horse, which I think was the making of him.

“And he’s come back physically stronger from that spell.”

Torrid Saint is second favoruite at $3.30 for the Swan Hill Pacing Cup, with Emma Stewart-trained Our Millionaire the current top pick in the market at $2.25.

Watson’s charge will head into the race on the back of an eighth placing in last Saturday night’s Geelong Pacing Cup, a race that saw driver Jack Laugher attempt a daring mid-race attack on leader Mach Dan that just fell short of finding the front. From there, Torrid Saint was left exposed and weakened late to be beaten over 15m.

It’s expected that Laugher will bide his time from barrier eight this time around and look to sweep past his rivals with one run in the home straight.

“If he can get the race run to suit, he’s got the speed,” Watson told SEN Track’s Trots Life on Thursday.

Torrid Saint’s stablemate Kosimo has been in good form and has the coveted inside barrier, while Stewart also has Like A Wildfire engaged from outside the front row. Other runners tackling the Swan Hill Pacing Cup include Vanquish Stride (Shane Sanderson), Blitzern (Allan McDonough) and Velox Equus (Boris Devcic).

The $14,000 Peter Walsh MP Swan Hill Mile is the other feature on the Friday night card, which will receive extended TrotsVision coverage with hosts Toby McKinnon and Shannon O’Sullivan.

LISTEN TO WATSON SPEAK ON SEN TRACK IN THE PODCAST PLAYER BELOW: