As we pause to really let one of the great Hunter Cup nights soak-in, there is so much to look forward to.
That was a night to bottle.
There was the “off the canvas” heroics of Swayzee’s successful Hunter Cup title defence, becoming the first horse to win the great race back-to-back since the champion Kiwi mare Blossom Lady in 1994-95.
The defining moment of Jason Grimson’s juggernaut training career so far, resurrecting eight-year-old Swayzee from a career-threatening bowel infection eight months ago, let alone his other four wins on the night.
Cam Hart enjoyed his best night in the sulky, driving all four of Grimson’s winners plus NSW Derby hopeful Brooklyn Dan in the Caduceus 3YO Classic for another of his biggest supporters, Emma Stewart.
It looked the best Hunter Cup on paper for more than a decade and delivered a vintage contest with Swayzee kicking-back to again upstage his champion younger sibling Leap To Fame. Republican Party was a close third and had his chance.
Remarkably, it was the same trifecta as last year.
Just moments after holding the Hunter Cup trophy aloft on a horse has shaped and really made his career, Hart was shaking his head after Captains Mistress’ breathtaking display in the Group 1 Queen of the Pacific.
She beat Australia’s best mares by 25m, smashed the clock and did it with the ear plugs still in and seemingly in second gear.
Hart remarked she would’ve given the Hunter Cup itself a shake with the right run.
He summed up the feelings of everyone watching on when he said: “I’m really looking forward to the next few months with her.”
Australia’s biggest four-year-old race, the Group 1 Chariots of Fire at Menangle on March 7 looks hers for the taking. She’s aiming to become just the fourth mare to beat the boys in the race and the first since Innocent Eyes did so 20 years ago.
While Swayzee will always have a special place with Hart, he declared Captains Mistress “the most exciting horse I’ve driven.”
Let that sink in.
Then there was the Keayang Zahara show, or more broadly, the Team Lee/Craven show.
The clan landed their biggest and most important win so far when Keayang Zahara romped home in the Great Southern Star final and banked the new $500,000 bonus in the process.
It was a Lee/Craven trifecta with Jilliby Ballerini second and Jilliby Dreamlover third.
It was about times or margins, just a display of dominance bordering on arrogance for the still untapped Keayang Zahara.
With 25 wins from 26 starts and 13 at Group 1 level, she truly is the Lyell Creek or Maori’s Idol of our time.
On any normal night, Hesitate’s barnstorming win in the 4YO Bonanza would’ve been a headline act, but there were so many moments to compete with last night.
The win booked him a spot against Captains Mistress in the Chariots Of Fire, but beating her will be quite an assignment on what saw last night.
Underlining the pulling power of great horses, it was fantastic to see big thoroughbred names like Blake Shinn, Mick Price, Wayne Hawkes, Craig Newitt, Lucy Yeomans and Reg Fleming all trackside Saturday night. Their love and admiration, primarily for Leap To Fame, was infectious.
Harness Racing Victoria got the “Grand Final” night they aimed for and deserved at the end of a fantastic and hugely successful six-week Summer of Glory.
Now others can leverage that moment as the stars focus on new targets.
First-up is NSW where Swayzee, Kingman (how enormous was his Hunter Cup run) and possibly Leap To Fame head towards the $1 million Miracle Mile on March 14.
They’ll have defending champion Don Hugo, Swayzee’s exciting new stablemate Rakero Rocket, Captains Knock and others waiting for them.
Just getting a run in this Miracle Mile will be a huge challenge.
What about if Captains Mistress blows her rivals away in the Chariots Of Fire, could she use the free ticket in and tackle the Miracle Mile?
Before any of that, Keayang Zahara will chase a 14th Group 1 win in Saturday week’s Grand Prix at Melton. That would leave her just one short of Lyell Creek’s Australasian record and she’s barely turned five.
The Kiwis will join this party, too.
Put a ring around Friday, April 10 at Cambridge.
Leap To Fame, Kingman and maybe Swayzee or Rakero Rocket will tackle the $NZ1 million Race by betcha, a race Leap To Fame won in such stunning fashion last year.
When you throw in the best of Kiwis like Republican Party, Merlin, Marketplace and Got The Chocolates, this will be some sort of race.
On the same night, Keayang Zahara will headline the $NZ600,000 Trot Slot race, a race Aussies have dominated in its two year history. The great Just Believe and Arcee Phoenix have been the winners.
Keayang Zahara will likely be joined by stablemate Jilliby Ballerini and Queensland star Gus in the race.
Beyond that, we’ve got the ingredients for a phenomenal Brisbane Inter Dominion in July.
