So Swift gave the father-son training combination of Bill and Symon Wilde their biggest win when he scored a thrilling victory in the Group Two Sandown Guineas (1600m) on Saturday.
Sent out at double figure odds following an impressive maiden win at Hamilton, So Swift got the run between eventual placegetters Niagara and Galah and got the judge’s verdict in a thrilling three way photo.
A son of Cornerstone Stud’s Barely a Moment, So Swift was purchased by Bill Wilde for $40,000 from the draft of Ampulla Lodge at last year’s Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
With Wilde Snr not on course, son and co-trainer Symon was left to deputise – and not surprisingly was all smiles when he realised his charge would get the result after the photo finish was shown on the big screen.
“Awesome,” he beamed. “That’s his nose in the middle touching the line – what a great thrill.”
Wilde gave his charge a strong each way chance – having shown good ability at home at Warrnambool and breaking through at his most recent start.
And then his confidence was given a boost when he was able to book one of the spring’s star riders for the promising gelding.
“When we drew a good gate and got Craig Williams’ services we thought we’d have a shot at the stumps,” Symon Wilde said.
“His Hamilton run was pretty impressive. He picked them up very quickly with a great turn of foot and when Craig Williams has a look at the tape and says he’ll ride him it gives you more confidence.”
“He’s a beautiful horse and at the time I don’t think the Barely a Moments were quite fashionable.”
“He was a beautiful walker and at the time I think he was the dearest horse Dad’s ever bought.”
So Swift would most likely be sent for a spell with the autumn in mind according to Wilde.
The winner was one of four on the card for Williams – who dominated the early spring with wins in the Caulfield and Geelong Cups and Cox Plate, before missing the Melbourne Cup mount on eventual winner Dunaden after copping a suspension.
So Swift is one of two runners for the lightly raced and placed Scenic mare Theophania.
A full brother to the twice Adelaide placed filly Elancer, So Swift is from a daughter of the Group Three WATC Queen’s Plate winner Zip Me Up.
Zip Me Up, who won three races and was fourth in a Gimcrack Stakes, is a half sister to Wild Violet, the dam of AJC Oaks winner Wild Iris.
The winner was the first at stakes level for a son or daughter Barely a Moment. The SA bred stallion has no fewer than four other stakes placegetters among his 34 winners to date.
The runner-up Niagara, freshened up after finishing out of a place in the VRC Derby, showed great fight to finish a nose from the winner in second place.
The handsome son of Encosta de Lago was a $620,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase for trainer Gai Waterhouse and after doing early work to cross from an outside barrier he was entitled to knock up in the straight – but he refused to lay down.
The win of So Swift provided a perfect two for two result for Adelaide Yearling Sale graduates in stakes races at Sandown today.
Earlier, the debuting Fomalhaut colt Maximus Moonard, a $26,000 Adelaide purchase, came from last to win the Merson Cooper Stakes for Tony McEvoy and Craig Williams.
Winner: So Swift
Breeding: Barely a Moment-Theophania (Scenic)
Race: MRC Sandown Guineas G2 (1600m)
Sold for: $40,000
Sale: 2010 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale
Vendor: Ampulla Lodge
Buyer: Bill Wilde
Earnings: $228,625
Owner(s): AC King, SM Jostlear, JR Reeves, PF O’Brien, GM Taylor, Mrs R Askew, GR Askew, ER Stewart & D Naujok
Trainer: Bill & Symon Wilde (Warrnambool)
