Talented Da Cruz pair ready for Sweynesse

Cambridge trainer Martin Da Cruz is taking a cautious approach with his talented sprinters Packing Eagle and Elusive Treasure going into tomorrow’s Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) at Rotorua.

Da Cruz wasn’t exuding confidence for the weight-for-age sprint, which has attracted Group One performers the likes of Close Up, Volpe Veloce and Volks Lightning and emerging stars Julius and Love Affair. “It looks a great race,” Da Cruz said. “We’ve drawn one (Packing Eagle) and 12 (Elusive Treasure) and (favourite) Julius has drawn 14 so hopefully we can get the right runs.”

TAB bookmakers opened Julius a $3.20 favourite ahead of Gr.1 Railway Stakes (1200m) winner Volpe Veloce at $3.60, with Love Affair ($5.50) and Packing Eagle ($7.50) the next most favoured in the market. Elusive Treasure opened at $61. Packing Eagle won the Sweynesse Stakes last year before he was freshened for a tilt at the Railway Stakes at Ellerslie, where he closed strongly for second, splitting tomorrow’s rivals Volpe Veloce and Volks Lightning.

He was then unplaced in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham before a gallant second to Start Wondering in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa.