 |
|
| Staff Writer |
 |  |
Trainer Ed Crisford is hoping for a repeat of history as he aims for Swing Vote to become a Dubai World Cup contender this weekend. During the Emirates Super Saturday press conference held at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday, Crisford compared Swing Vote, a three-time Jebel Ali winner, to Algiers, who was an honorable runner-up in the prestigious Group 1 last March.
Swing Vote, trained by Crisford and his father Simon, will compete in the Group Three Burj Nahaar this Saturday. The 4YO horse shares the same sire as Algiers, Shamardal, and enters Meydan on the back of a win in the Jebel Ali Mile. Although this weekend's competition marks another step up in class for Swing Vote, Crisford is optimistic that the horse can eventually follow in the footsteps of Algiers, who was a celebrated predecessor.
While this year's World Cup may be a season too early for Swing Vote, Crisford is confident that the horse will continue to progress and eventually become a true Dubai World Cup contender.
“Algiers was an extremely special horse for our stable and, from winning at Jebel Ali to finishing second in the Dubai World Cup, dad and I couldn’t have dreamed that he’d do that,” said Crisford.
“It was amazing how well he took to the dirt at Meydan, and we really felt that when he won the second of his Al Maktoum Challenges that we could win the World Cup.
“It wasn’t to be as he was beaten by a very good horse that night (Ushba Tesoro), but we had a wonderful ride with him, and he deserves a good retirement.
“Swing Vote is a hugely progressive horse who won the Jebel Ali Mile in great style.
“However, Saturday’s race will be a completely different ball game as Meydan is more of a conventional dirt track so the pace and rhythm of the race will be vastly different to Jebel Ali.
“But, although we toyed with going straight to the G2 Godolphin Mile on World Cup night, he is in such good form that we just thought he could do with that match practice.
“Algiers himself was due to run in the Burj Nahaar, but he got a temperature before the day before the race and had to go straight to the Godolphin Mile where he was draw on the outside and was all at sea.
“Because Swing Vote came out of his last race in such good form, we thought let’s take our chance on Emirates Super Saturday, so that he can learn about Meydan and gain some valuable experience of the track.
“The experience with Algiers was terrific and to be associated with the great race was wonderful. It would be wonderful to find another World Cup horse and who is to say this fella might not be it.”