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McEvoy Gives Switzerland Seal Of Approval
Almost a year to the day Golden Slipper winner Shinzo made his debut, Switzerland – another expensive colt carrying the Coolmore colours – kicked off his career in style with a dynamic win at Randwick.
While Shinzo was beaten at his debut in the Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill last year he continued to improve through the autumn and jockey Kerrin Mcevoy is adamant there's all upside to Switzerland.
The 2-3/4 length win saw the Chris Waller-trained colt firm from $26 into $8 for the $5 million Golden Slipper run on March 23. Magic Millions winner Storm Boy is the clear Slipper favourite at $3.
"He's only going to get better, typical of one of Chris's,'' McEvoy said.
"He's got a good attitude, scope to improve over a bit further and fill out into himself."
McEvoy, whose sons Rhys and Jake stole the show at Warwick Farm on Australia Day winning the two pony races, said he was keen to ensure Switzerland took advantage of his inside gate and landed in a striking position.
"He's got the capacity and the ability to give him a kick along and hold his spot,'' he said.
"It got tight on the rail when Tim (Clark on Russian Roulette) steadied up the pace and we had to bullock into the clear. He showed a neat turn of foot to get in front then coasted the last 100m."
The lead up to the Golden Slipper begins in earnest next weekend with the Group 3 Canonbury and Widden Stakes (1100m) run at Rosehill.
Dodson Swift To Target Country Championships
Lightly raced gelding Swift Charm passed an important test for next month's Newhaven Park Northern Rivers Country Championships with his narrow Highway defeat at Randwick.
Coffs Harbour trainer Brett Dodson is chasing his first regional Country Championships and was keen to see the six-year-old put himself in a race from the start given the Northern Rivers race will be held at Lismore on February 17.
He found himself in front in the 1200m Highway and was just outpointed near the line by Blow Dart.
"We wanted to ride him that way because Lismore is traditionally for on pace runners,'' Dodson said.
"If he got an easy lead it would, have been nice but they slowed the tempo and the first two have run one two and he's been beaten a neck.
"He got his chance but I think he will be better when we take a sit on him. He's only just starting tok put it all together now, he's still improving and I think 1400m will suit him.
"It's big money and not far away so you've got to have a go."
Dodson is likely to also have Olakau'atu in the $150,000 Lismore feature despite disappointing the trainer with his performance at Eagle Farm last week.
Meanwhile, Bandi's Boy joined Derry Grove and Gallant Star at the top of Country Championships betting at $8 with a brilliant first-up win in the Precise Air Handicap (1200m) - an ominous sign given trainer Danny Williams had said all week he'd be better for the run.
He's headed for the South East Country Championships at Moruya on March 3.
The Newhaven Park Country Championships Final (1400m) will carry $1 million for the first time in what will be the tenth edition of the popular race on Day 1 of The Star Championships.
Noches On Expressway To TJ Target
Trainer Matthew Smith couldn't be happier with how his star sprinter Buenos Noches has come through his first barrier trial as he warms up for a return in the Expressway Stakes in three weeks.
The four-year-old finished on the heels of the placegetters in a 900m heat at Rosehill on Thursday and will trial again on February 8 before the $300,000 Group 2 sprint nine days later.
It's Smith's major goal to get the 'Group 1 winner' tag alongside the entire's name this preparation, and a second tilt at the TAB Everest is not out of the question next spring, and he'll have at least three chances to snare a Group 1 this campaign.
"His recovery the other day was better, I think he is a bit more forward,'' Smith said.
"We didn't let him get heavy last prep and this time in he's super.
"At this stage he will run in the Expressway, the Newmarket and the TJ Smith. The All Aged is a possibility as well."
Smith said the Oakleigh Plate is another option for Buenos Noches this time in.
Meanwhile, the $3 million Big Dance will be Smith's 2024 focus with Floating after his strong victory in the Agency Real Estate Handicap (2000m).
The grey, who earned his Big Dance eligibility in the Nowra Cup, wore down Caboche to score narrowly, atoning for an unlucky defeat two weeks earlier, but Smith said he's still a work in progress and will only continue to improve.
"It's great to see him get the win on the board because he's just been so consistent. In these 88s you need everything to go right,'' he said.
Tiger Back In Business With Carrington Win
Where to next for the rejuvenated Zou Tiger? That's the problem facing the John O'Shea stable after the four-year-old roared back to form with a runaway win in the Listed $200,000 TAB Carrington Stakes (1400m).
While he was Group 1 placed in last year's Randwick Guineas, it had been closing on 18 months since Zou Tiger's lone career win and had he not performed third-up O'Shea's assistant trainer Tom Charlton said he may have been at a crossroad.
But after sitting near the speed he put his Carrington rivals away, racing to a 2-1/2 length win over Tamerlane with the leader Felix Majestic holding on for third. The winner's stablemate Waihaha Falls ran fourth while Maximal pulled up lame after beating two home.
"He's destined for that Group 3 or Group 2 level and maybe now with a bit of confidence hopefully get back to the top level,'' Charlton said.
"He came back a gelding and had throat surgery as well, we were confident he was going to run well first-up and it didn't go to plan at all. He's taken another big step forward there and that's the key.
"We came into the race confident that all three would run well and I'd say the winner has taken another step forward from his second up run."
