Promising three-year-old Swords Drawn added a second stakes placing to his record on Saturday when running third to Cutadeel in the Listed Three-Year-Old Salver (2100m) at Ellerslie on Sunday. He has impressed his trainer Shaune Ritchie in his six career starts-to-date and he believes Swords Drawn has the potential to contest the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie in March.
“I was impressed (with his run on Sunday),” Ritchie said. “I love the way this horse attacks the line. Jason Waddell (jockey) came off him and said it took him until the 1200 to pull him up.
“It will be nice to give him a maiden mile, and you would think hopefully a win, in preparation before the Avondale Guineas (Gr.2, 2100m) and his main target is naturally the Derby.” – NZ Racing News – 18/12
