Charlotte Littlefield is hoping Big Swinger can make a statement in the city after a brief but promising career in the provincials. The gelding will line up in Saturday’s Catanach’s Jewellers Handicap (1200m) at Caulfield for his sixth start.
With three wins from five starts, Big Swinger has shown ability outside of metropolitan company but was unplaced in both of his Stakes attempts, including the Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint (1200m) at Randwick during The Championships.
Littlefield had ambitions for a spring tilt at the Golden Eagle but now admits they may have been overly optimistic.
“I brought him back from Sydney with our tail between our legs,” Littlefield told RSN.
“We went to Sydney with grand expectations that he could do something solid in that race and then leapfrog into something like the Golden Eagle.”
“We’ve had to lower our expectations because we won’t have the ratings points to go to races like that in the spring.”
Her revised plan includes aiming for races such as The Meteorite at Pakenham later in the year.
“He’s a big, raw horse and he’ll be better with time. For now, we’ll just take things race by race.”
Big Swinger will jump from barrier two under Ben Allen, who rode the horse in a recent trial. The wide-striding gelding could be vulnerable from the inside draw, something Littlefield is well aware of.
“He needs space to wind up. That’s the main instruction Ben will get – find room and let him build momentum,” she said.
Littlefield may not be on course at Caulfield if The Muffin Man gains a run in the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m), where he sits as second emergency.
“Hopefully I’m getting on that plane to Brisbane,” she said.
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