Trish Dunell
Shaune Ritchie heads to Hawke’s Bay on Saturday where his runners include in-form galloper Sultan Of Swing who steps out in the Reliable Man Trophy (1600m) from barrier three for apprentice Taiki Yanagida.
“The barrier is probably irrelevant to him because he has been racing well over a mile by being ridden cold, so he will probably get back and swoop,” Ritchie said.
“He has had a bit of time between races. He had a week off after his last run and they cancelled the Open 1500m race at Ellerslie last week, which in hindsight mightn’t of suited him anyway because it would have been on a heavy track.”
With a number of the opposition resuming or early in their preparations, Sultan Of Swing should have a base fitness edge.
“He has been in work since before Bonecrusher was broken in,” Ritchie quipped.
“Gee I love the way he is going. He is working super and a nice older horse like him often holds his form. You wouldn’t want to be leaving him out of your trifecta, that’s for sure.”
Sultan of Swing, who carries the Trelawney Stud brand, was born and raised on the farm for Dominic Li under his IDL Racing banner. -NZ Racing Desk