Sweynesse youngsters impress at Avondale

It might be early days, but juveniles by dual Group Three winning stallion Sweynesse have made a positive impression.

The Group One-placed son of Lohnro was represented by two impressive trials winners at Avondale yesterday, while his only race-day performer to date, Swey My Way, ran an encouraging fourth in a strong two-year-old event at Pukekohe won by Not An Option.

Te Awamutu trainer Clint Isdale produced a filly out of Darci Brahma mare Jungle Pago to win by five lengths over 600m. “It was good to see her do everything right,” Isdale said. “In her first trial, she trialled up behind a horse of Te Akau’s (Cool Aza Beel) that won the first two-year-old race. She did a few things wrong but hit the line nicely and I was very happy with it.

“I was disappointed in her second trial, but we gave her a couple of weeks off. She was heavily in season we found and she went over to Sam Logan’s for a bit of something different.

“She trialled very well today. I am very happy to see her do what we thought she could do. She will make a two-year-old. If she pulls up well we will look at starting her.”

Isdale, who previously worked for Godolphin in Sydney, has a bit of inside knowledge when it comes to Sweynesse.

“I used to ride Sweynesse in trackwork every day,” he said. “He was just an absolute gentleman as a colt and she is the same. She is a real professional.”

The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained daughter of Sweynesse, Bonita Aurelia, won her second trial from three hit-outs and looks another professional type.

“She’s certainly shown plenty of promise in her trials,” Baker said.

“We’ll find a race for her in the next couple of weeks.”

Sweynesse stands at Novara Park in Cambridge for a fee of $6000+GST alongside multiple Group One performer Staphanos.

“They seem to have made a big impression and it is certainly very encouraging,” Novara Park manager Ray Knight said.