Sandown Guineas winner So Swift will kick off an autumn campaign ultimately aimed at the South Australian Derby in May when he resumes in Saturday’s $90,000 Bendigo Guineas.
Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde said the Barely A Moment gelding had a good break after he gave the stable its biggest win in the Group Two Sandown Guineas (1600m) over Niagara and Galah.
“He didn’t spell all that well, the horse does a lot better when he’s in work and we’re very happy with him at the moment,” Wilde said.
“He had a quiet jumpout at Camperdown last week where he rolled around and went really well.
“He’s probably going to find (the 1400m of) this race a bit short for him.
“But we’re just looking to get a run into him and then his next runs should be good in the Port Adelaide Guineas and the Chairman’s Stakes on the way to the (SA) Derby.”
The Group One South Australian Derby (2500m) is run at Morphettville on May 5.
So Swift drew barrier four in Saturday’s 16-horse field and will be ridden by Damien Oliver replacing Craig Williams who rode him brilliantly in the Sandown Guineas.
Oliver rode So Swift when he ran second to Delegance in a 1200m two-year-old race at the Warrnambool May carnival last year.
Wilde co-trains with his father Bill Wilde who purchased So Swift for $40,000 as a yearling at the Adelaide Magic Millions sale.
So Swift is equal topweight with 58.5kg with the Anthony Cummings-trained Upbeat, last-start winner of the Group Two Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield.
The Peter Moody-trained Huegill is $5.50 favourite with TAB Sportsbet ahead of So Swift ($6), The New Boy ($7.50), Upbeat ($8) with Shanghai Warrior and Festina Lente at $9.50 and Canonized next best at $10.
Huegill, to be ridden by Michael Walker, finished third behind Helmet and Manawanui in the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) last spring before being spelled.
But the More Than Ready colt is yet to find that form in three runs this preparation, although he has a significant class drop after running 13th to star filly Mosheen in the Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 3.
