Queensland Derby Contender for Sweynesse

Media Release - Saturday May 13

Kiwi three-year-old Special Swey has bolstered Chris Waller’s Queensland arsenal, making an instant impact for the Champion trainer when scoring a game victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m).

Special Swey takes out the Gr.3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) in spectacular style Photo: Grant Peters

A tactical mid-race move by apprentice Tyler Schiller to roll forward proved a masterstroke as Special Swey forced his rivals to chase from a long way out and none were up to the challenge, with the gelding going on to score by a length and a half from favourite The Vowels.

A son of Sweynesse, Special Swey was a dominant last-start Matamata winner for trainer Stephen Ralph, and was transferred to Waller by long-time supporter Tony Muollo.

"I've only had the horse about ten days,” Waller said.

“A great friend of mine Tony Muollo owns the horse, his brother Luigi bred the horse so it's a good little story. Tony has been a great supporter of mine, he picked the horse out and said 'I think we should take this horse to Queensland.' Full credit to Tony."

With initial favourite Kovalica scratched on race morning with a foot abscess, Waller turned to stablemates Yasuke ($19) and Special Swey ($26) and he was pleased to see the Kiwi import get the job done.

"He won his maiden quite well at Matamata,” Waller said.

“He did a bit of work on that occasion and he was ridden similar to how he was ridden today. Tyler (Schiller) obviously did his homework. It was good to watch.

Advertisement

"Tyler made a bold move, he went from probably the 900m or the 800m. You put your neck on the chopping block because trainers aren't always that forgiving. He nailed it, he's obviously very smart. He knew how slow they were going and decided 'let's go'.”

While Waller admitted Ocean Park gelding Kovalica was still his number one seed for the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m), he was delighted to have an able back-up.

"He's still behind Kovalica, but if there's a chink in Kovalica's armour he'll run a strong 2400m. He’s certainly number two but he's putting his head up and saying 'I might enjoy this Queensland life’."

Bred by Luigi Muollo of Novara Park under his Explosive Breeding Ltd banner,  Special Swey is by Group One performed Lonhro stallion Sweynesse, sire of six stakes winners to date including the world’s top-rated sprinter Lucky Sweynesse.

Out of the three-win Per Incanto mare Mia Mamma, Special Swey was offered at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale via Ohukia Lodge, but failed to meet his $50,000 reserve.

A winner and twice placed from seven starts in New Zealand, Special Swey earned A$145,000 for his winning efforts on Saturday. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Ladbrokes Rough Habit Plate Gr3 2000m

Doomben Track: Good(4) Time: 2:02.14
1
Special Swey
- 3g Sweynesse (AUS) x Mia Mamma (NZ) (Per Incanto (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Tyler Schiller 57
2
1.5
The Vowels
- 3g Better Than Ready (AUS) x Mareeza (AUS) (Freeze (AUS))
Tnr: A J & T Edmonds Rdr: James Orman 57
3
2.5
Stroke Of Luck
- 3g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Defy The Odds (GB) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: N Rawiller 57
Fastnet Rock
4
4.2
Cut On A Dime
- 3c So You Think (NZ) x Martilago (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Bryce Heys Rdr: Damien Thornton 57
5
4.7
Tapildoodledo
- 3g Proisir (AUS) x Mrs Tappy (NZ) (One Cool Cat (USA))
Tnr: K & I Taplin Rdr: M R Du Plessis 57
6
5.2
Xtrarevz
- 3g Xtravagant (NZ) x Otravez (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: J G Sargent Rdr: K Mc Evoy 57
7
5.7
Yasuke
- 3c Maurice (JPN) x Only Roses (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Tim Clark 57
8
6.1
Brookhaven
- 3g Spieth (NZ) x Lightens (AUS) (Viscount (AUS))
Tnr: Chris Munce Rdr: Justin Huxtable 57
9
6.3
Heika
- 3g Maurice (JPN) x Glare Channel (JPN) (Zenno Rob Roy (JPN))
Tnr: Paul Messara Rdr: Kyle Wilson-Taylor 57
10
6.5
Bulikov
- 3g Deep Field (AUS) x Divine City (AUS) (Ferocity (AUS))
Tnr: R L Heathcote Rdr: J Parr 57
11
6.9
Waitak
- 3g Proisir (AUS) x Repo Bay (NZ) (Shocking (AUS))
Tnr: L O'Sullivan & A Scott Rdr: Ben Thompson 57
12
8.7
So Dazzling
- 3f So You Think (NZ) x Dazzling Lady (NZ) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: J G Sargent Rdr: Craig Williams 55
13
9.7
Untethered
- 3g Turn Me Loose (NZ) x Ready At Eight (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Jake Bayliss 57
14
10.1
Snizzi
- 3g Snitzel (AUS) x Flidais (AUS) (Timber Country (USA))
Tnr: Paul Messara Rdr: S T Collett 57
15
12.3
Flash Prince
- 3g Xtravagant (NZ) x Gentle (AUS) (Mossman (AUS))
Tnr: B J Dais Rdr: Taylor Marshall 57
More Reading...
Via Sistina Joins Two Group One Legends
Via Sistina is certainly in rare air and if you want another stat to put her in perspective – yesterday’s Winx Stakes win saw her become one of only three horses in the last 40 years to win eight Group One races in a 12-month period.
First Stakes Success For Cafe Millenium
While having just turned 5, former Sydneysider Cafe Millenium (Not A Single Doubt), who now calls Lindsay Park home, broke through for his first black type victory on Saturday, winning the Listed SAJC Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville in impressive fashion.
Wootton Bassett Juvenile G2 Double
Wootton Bassett (GB) featured in Ireland overnight at The Curragh with two stakes-winning juveniles, Constitution River taking out the the Group II Futurity (7f), while the Group II Debutante (7f) went to the filly Composing, who comes from the family of Amelia’s Jewel.
Inglis Ready2Race Sale Now Online
The strongest collection of sire power ever assembled for an Australian 2YO Sale will be offered at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale, for which the catalogue is now available online.
Sires With Winners - Saturday August 23
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Navy King sails to Valley victory
A well-judged front-running ride by Daniel Stackhouse has aided five-year-old gelding Navy King to claim the lion’s share of the prize in the MSC Signs Handicap (2040m) at The Valley on Saturday.
Bates gets creative at The Valley
Six-year-old gelding The Creator led throughout to claim the Ladbrokes Top 2/3/4 Betting Handicap (1600m) at The Valley on Saturday under a perfect Logan Bates ride.
Hard To Cross swoops to Valley win
Six-year-old gelding Hard To Cross was aided by the three-kilo claim of Rose Hammond as the Kiwi bred landed his first victory of the preparation when landing the Ascend Sales Trophies Handicap (1523m).
Winning Return for the Best in Australia - Via Sistina
Set to be crowned Australia’s Horse of the Year for last season, the mighty Fastnet Rock mare Via Sistina (IRE) returned on a rain soaked track at Randwick on Saturday to win the $1million Group I ATC Winx Stakes (1400m).
Idyllic Prince Stakes - Phanta Leads a Sweet Trifecta for Gingerbread Man
Yarradale Stud's senior stallion Gingerbread Man achieved a rare career high for any sire when the son of Shamardal provided the trifecta in Saturday's Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes over 1300m at Belmont Park.