Big Swinger bails out favourite backers with stunning burst in Caulfield win

Promising gelding Big Swinger overcame several difficulties to prevail at Caulfield, to the relief of his owners and punters.

Big Swinger gets himself out of trouble to win at Caulfield on Saturday. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Favourite backers were poised to write off their money with 200m to run in the Catanach’s Jewellers Handicap (1200m).

The Charlotte Littlefield-trained Big Swinger carried the hopes of thousands of punters in win bets and multis but they had a tough watch throughout the $150,000 race.

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A combination of Big Swinger’s racing manners and goings on ahead of him left jockey Ben Allen to negotiate a difficult trip from the start.

Big Swinger got up on to the heels of other runners at least twice midrace as the strong galloper looked for racing room.

Big Swinger was still held up behind a wall of horses halfway down the straight, leaving Allen searching for options.

However, Allen managed to ease Big Swinger off heels from where the smart prospect charged to a narrow win over the $21 chance Flyer.

Big Swinger was enormous at Caulfield!@HayfieldsRacing@[e-mail]/9MB9lj6yhK

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) May 31, 2025

Big Swinger’s finishing burst was a relief to the gelding’s band or owners on course as well as those that took the short odds about the three-year-old son of Trapeze Artist.

“About 100(m) to go, we were going to run an unlucky fifth,” Littlefield’s husband Julian Hay said.

“It takes a good horse to do that.”

Hay said Big Swinger’s finishing burst was no surprise, adding the gelding clocked some “scary” trackwork times at Littlefield’s Pakenham base.

Big Swinger’s win left the Creswick Series of three-year-old sprints as ideal winter targets for the winner of four of six starts.

However, Hay said Big Swinger was still “soft-boned”, meaning Littlefield was more likely to give the emerging prospect more time to develop.

“He’s the best horse we’ve ever trained, we think, he’s got that much ability,” Hay said.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

PREBBLE REPAYS PAYNES

Apprentice jockey Tom Prebble sealed a Saturday double at Caulfield with victory on Jimmy The Bear for his uncle and aunty Patrick and Michelle Payne.

Prebble, who by his own admission did not give Jimmy The Bear the best steer first-up when second to the in-form War Machine, more than made amends on Saturday.

Jimmy The Bear finished over the top of tenacious leader Regal Zeus, courtesy of a perfectly-timed and economical Prebble steer.

Prebble faced the potential of being posted wide again on Jimmy The Bear but the rising star found cover at a crucial stage in the 1600m Benchmark 100 JRA Handicap to set up the win.

Jimmy The Bear gives Tom Prebble a double at Caulfield, even better when it's a win for family!@mj_paynepic.twitter.com/lR8Muiaddk

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) May 31, 2025

“The race probably didn’t unfold exactly how I planned, I didn’t want to repeat the same thing that happened last start, being caught three deep on a fast tempo,” Prebble said.

“I was able to get in and he was good … 1400m up to 1600m, second up, his record is pretty impeccable, so I knew he would be strong.

“He’s a complete and utter fighter, he wants to race and I’m very fortunate Patrick has given me the opportunity now to ride him twice after probably not giving him the best of steers first ride.”

Prebble piloted the impressive winner Splash Back earlier on the card for Grahame Begg.

WHITE LINE FEVER LANDS JOURNAL ANOTHER WIN

A touch of “white line fever” brought imported galloper Dublin Journal victory in the Ian Miller Handicap (2000m).

Dublin Journal has been a good money spinner for connections, especially after trainers Ben, JD and Will Hayes worked out the gelding loves the cut and thrust of racing among other horses.

Luke Currie rode the seven-year-old in that fashion at Caulfield, opting against going out wide when held up on the home turn, instead driving Dublin Journal ($9) along the inside to beat I Am The Empire ($26).

Dublin Journal gives Luke Currie and the Hayes team a double at [e-mail]/4Ei4xkTicA

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) May 31, 2025

“He requires a lot of luck and Luke executed it perfectly,” JD Hayes said.

“He’s a funny horse. As soon as he gets outside them, he gives up but he loves the crash and bash and pokes through late.”

Earlier, Currie combined with the Hayes brothers in Madiyya’s third straight win in the Rod Griffiths Handicap.

Madiyya sustained a long run from the rear of the field before the $1.75 favourite defied the late challenge of the $10 chance I ONLY WISH.

PRESS THE BUTTON

Trial By Press answered the call to run down Extreme Virtue in the Selangor Turf Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield.

The Greg Eurell-trained five-year-old daughter of Danerich preserved a perfect second-up record – now three from three – with the win under apprentice jockey Ryan Houston.

Trial By Press is two from two this preparation!@GregEurell@[e-mail]/YSZpYyPhYd

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) May 31, 2025

Extreme Virtue looked set to pinch the race around the bend, the Lindsay Park-trained mare skipped clear under apprentice jockey Dakotah Keane, but Trial By Press would not be denied.

“I thought coming into the turn the leader started to skip away a little bit and thought gee we might struggle to run this down and to her credit she dug deep,” Eurell said.

“Typical of the mare, as I said to Ryan, she’s very push button, the more you ask the more she gives and that’s exactly what she did today.”

Originally published as Big Swinger bails out favourite backers with stunning burst in Caulfield win