Purcell hoping for Swift bounce back at Caulfield

TRAINER Aaron Purcell is banking on a class drop and the claim of an apprentice jockey to help Fox Swift regain winning form at Caulfield.

A stakes winner last spring at Flemington for trainer Ciaron Maher, Fox Swift will be having her third start for Purcell in today’s Bert Bryant Handicap (1100m).

Fox Swift will carry 54kg following the 3kg claim for Mitchell Aitken. Purcell inher- ited Fox Swift when Maher was suspended for six months and the filly will return to her original trainer when he finishes his ban and resumes training on Tuesday.

After a fading first-up 10th at Moonee Valley over 1200m last month, Fox Swift finished sixth over 1100m over the Flemington straight on March 17. That day she drew the wrong side of the track and finished a little over four and a half lengths from winner Demerara.

“I think her result would have been better had she drawn the other side, but I doubt she would have been winning,” Purcell said.

“She’s trained on well since, the 1100m on her home track I think she’ll appreciate and she’s also got a nice claim and comes in pretty well at the weights.

“I’m expecting her to run better and be in the money.”

Fox Swift holds a nomination for the Group Two Arrowfield Sprint at Randwick at The Championships on April 14.