Cam Hart’s Skill to be Tested in Inter Dominion Heat as Swayzee Faces Challenge

By Adam Hamilton

IT will take a bit of Cam Hart magic for Inter Dominion big gun Swayzee to extend to his winning streak in tomorrow night’s second round of heats at Albion Park.

Hart, Australia’s top young driver, conceded Swayzee’s inside back row draw (gate eight) was “one we didn’t want,” but he still thinks the powerhouse pacer can stretch his unbeaten record for trainer Jason Grimson to 11 races.

“I think it’s pretty hard to snag right back and try to come around them all, especially on a track like Albion Park where the pegs (inside) is gold,” he said.

“I’d like to punch through hard because we follow out a quick beginner (Petes Said So) and maybe a gap will appear outside of me and I can pop off into the running line in the first few hundred metres.

“If not, we’ll be three pegs at worst and gaps often come if they run along.”

While Swayzee has almost exclusively won his races for Grimson racing in front or right on the speed, Hart said he is a lot more versatile than people realise.

“Especially the way he’s come back this campaign,” he said. “He’ll follow pace and run on really well, I’m sure of that.”

Swayzee was the first leg of a winning double for Hart in the opening round Inter Dominion heats last Friday night and he then returned to Sydney for four wins at Menangle on Saturday night. He will commute between Sydney and Brisbane through the rest of the series.

“I thought the first night was a harder heat for him because of the sprint trip (1660m distance), but he got through it well and gave me an incredible feeling 50m after the post,” Hart said.

“He’s only going to relish getting out over more ground and he’s carrying a bit of condition, so he’ll get fitter as it goes on, too.”

Hart is also driving Swayzee’s stablemates Nerano and Betterzippit through the pacing series.

“Nerano is racing really well and it didn’t surprise me he ran such a great race behind Leap To Fame the other night,” he said. “If you can hold him up, he’s got a super quick 200-300m in him. He’s probably the fastest horse I’ve driven.

“He’s drawn wide (gate seven) in his second heat, but I’ll work and think a few will come around and I’ll get some cover. I think he can make the final the way he’s going.”

Betterzippit, winner of the inaugural $1mil Nullarbor in April, went into the series first-up and Hart thinks he will thrive as it goes on.

“I loved how he hit the line the other night, but he hung a bit at a crucial stage and Jase (Grimson) is going to change a few things. I think he’ll be the big improver of my three as we go through the heats,” he said.

Hart’s other win on opening night came with the pick-up drive on talented Victorian trotter Plymouth Chubb for master trainer Peter Manning.

“That was an incredible feeling when he let go. It felt like I was driving a topline pacer, he sprinted so quickly and won easily,” he said.

Plymouth Chubb upset star mare Queen Elida on night one and faces series’ favourite Just Believe tomorrow night.

“He’s got a good draw and if he can find the front and go as well as he did coming from off the pace, I reckon he’ll be very hard to beat again,” Hart said.