What are the chances of a stallion with just four named foals in his debut crop producing a stakes winner?.
You would have to say that odds are well and truly against that horse, that he would have to be quite the upgrader.
Well that is just what Swift Alliance is proving to be - Springview's under
utilized stallion on the weekend proving that he has what it takes with his
talented son Clarton Super storming home to an impressive victory in the Gr.2
E.W Barker Trophy at Kranji.
Having just his ninth start, the Tan Kah Soon trained five-year-old recorded his fourth win - covering ground worse than midfield, hooking out even wider into the straight and winding up strongly from the 300m.
Joining the leaders at the 200m, Clarton Super was quickly clear, doing a great job taking on more experienced horses having gone into the feature contest as the second lowest rated runner.
But he was by no means unfancied, connections confident that he could improve on a close-up fifth under a big weight at his previous outing.
"My nephew (Amirul Ismadi) rode him last start and told me he felt flat," said veteran jockey Azhar Ismail, "but tonight he was different - I could tell from the moment I jumped on that he was back to his best, on his A-game."
Having got a good feeling from working him the previous Tuesday, Ismail was happy to give Clarton Super time to find his feet, noting that "he is a horse you have to switch off at the back and stay on the outside... and he will respond better, he is a horse who needs to chase something."
"You just have to time his run properly and he will do the rest."
Heading for a spell in preparation for further riches next year, Clarton Super is described by rookie trainer Tan Kah Soon (who has only been training since September 1) as "a quality horse."
"If he had won last start I was actually thinking of running him in the Gold Cup, but it has worked out well in the end."
A fast-finishing third at his only Australian run under the name of Righteous Cause, Clarton Super was bred by Gooree Stud who also bred and raced Swift Alliance.
And what fun they had with him, the handsome bay winning nine of his 19 starts and amassing over $628,000 in stakes by succeeding at stakes level on five occasions.
Winning the Gr.3 Star Kingdom Stakes on two occasions, the Gai Waterhouse trained Swift Alliance also proved his class in the Gr.3 Bobbie Lewis Quality down the famed Flemington straight, also able to win two Listed races.
Also competitive at Group One level, only just beaten by Ortensia (later disqualified) when third (elevated to second) in The Galaxy - Swift Alliance deserved better chances at stud than he has been given.
However Peter & Leah Smith are endeavouring to give him greater opportunities and have been welcoming his first Springview foals at the Euroa property.
Supporting him with the stud's own mares, they are also welcoming outside breeders such as Kristen Manning whose stakes producing mare Miss Peligrosa - dam of recent Gr.3 winner Quilate - visited Swift Alliance last week.
"As an owner/breeder I am keen to produce sound, tough racehorses and Swift Alliance ticked every box for me," she said.
"He performed consistently throughout a career that spanned four seasons and was held in such high regard by the Waterhouse stable. And he has such depth to his pedigree being a grandson of Zabeel from a high class American family."
For further details on Swift Alliance who stands at $3300 (incl gst) contact Peter Smith on 0418 531 255.
