Swoop Dog looked to be taking the Tasmanian Racing Carnival by storm after winning three feature races on end, so a crack at a clean sweep at the main Cups looked the obvious pathway however trainer John Blacker has avoided Wednesday’s Group 3 Launceston Cup (2400m) in favour of a Listed race over a mile.
While on paper it might seem the easier option to snare another victory, Swoop Dog ($9) will face the seemingly insurmountable task of beating The Inevitable.
The Inevitable, the $1.45 betr.com.au favourite for the Listed Hellova Street Stakes (1600m), has the ‘picket fence’ run currently at five wins while Swoop Dog’s string of three was broken last start in the Group 3 Hobart Cup (2400m) on February 12.
Swoop Dog won the Longford Cup (1800m) on New Year’s Day then took out the Devonport Cup (1880m) ten days later followed by the Summer Cup (2200m) on January 22.
However, missing the placings in the Hobart Cup has seen Blacker change course, and distance.
“Over 1800 metres at home in the Devonport Cup he was nice and strong,” Blacker said.
“In the Hobart Cup I thought he failed to run out the last 100 metres as strongly.
“He pulled up really good so we’ve elected to go back to the mile at weight-for-age.”
Under the weight-for-age conditions, Swoop Dog takes on The Inevitable on level weights with 59-kilos each.
“I don’t think we can beat him,” Blacker concedes.
“I think we’ll run second but if he is off his game and the track is too firm for him, I think we have chance to beat him.”
Wednesday’s assignment will be Swoop Dog’s third appearance in this race after finishing sixth in 2022 and third a year earlier.
“His last two runs in this race as a three and four-year-old have been outstanding,” Blacker added.
“He should have won two years ago and had no luck at all last year.”
Conquering The Inevitable or not, and all being well thereafter, Blacker is eyeing races on the mainland for the five-year-old gelding.
“I’d like to see him super fit in a really good race where he gets 51-kilos over a mile and I reckon he’ll hold himself well.”
Swoop Dog has made one appearance in Victoria so far at Flemington finishing seventh behind Gentleman Roy over 1600 metres in March last year.
