Swayzee starts road to another NZ Cup

1 September 2026

ADAM HAMILTON 

MIGHTY stayer Swayzee takes his first step towards chasing a third NZ Cup win when he trials at Menangle on Wednesday.


The rising nine-year-old has been sidelined since May because of some tying-up issues, but owner Mick Boots said he was primed for another big campaign.

“Another crack at the NZ Cup is where we’re aiming him,” he said. “He won’t go to the Victoria Cup, we’ll just get him ready for NZ.

“He and Minos are the two of mine that Jason (Grimson, trainer) is setting for NZ (Cup).”

Despite racing at the same time as his phenomenal half-brother Leap To Fame, Swayzee has won 33 races and over $2.6 million.

He beat Leap To Fame for a third time when he won his second successive Hunter Cup in February.

“He was tying up so we gave him a good break to give him every chance to make it back,” Boots said.

It meant Swayzee missed the Brisbane Inter Dominion, which was by Boots’ new sensation, Captains Mistress.

Minos scored a win and second in two Inter Dominion heats before finishing a bold fourth in the final.

Captains Mistress is also nearing a return with the Group 1 Victoria Cup her next major target at Melton on October 17.

“She’ll trial in a couple of weeks and then have a couple of lead-up runs before the Victoria Cup,” Boots said.

While Boots ruled out the NZ Cup for Captains Mistress, he confirmed she would head there after the Victoria Cup.

“After the Victoria Cup, she’ll do the rest of her racing for the year in NZ,” he said.

In a coup for the picturesque Kaikoura Cup, Boots confirmed Captains Mistress would tackle the Kaikoura Cup on November 2.

“I know some people thought Jason (Grimson) was joking when he mentioned the race, it’s one both of us really want to try and win,” he said.

“She’s then got the free-for-all during NZ Cup Week because I don’t think the Cup itself is a suitable race for her.

“There’s another $NZ100,000 race (Group 1 Christian Cullen on November 20) and then she’ll go up north for another big race at Alexandra Park (Group 1 Queen of Hearts on December 11).”

That would also open the option of the Group 1 Auckland Cup on New Year’s Eve.

PHOTO: Race Images NZ