2025 Nullarbor: Champion trainer Gary Hall Sr says tough draw means Swayzee can’t beat Minstrel at Gloucester Park

Champion stayer Swayzee will have to do something he has never done before to win Friday night’s $1.25 million Group 1 Nullarbor at Gloucester Park.

Minstrel, pictured after his WA Pacing Cup win, is the new favourite for the $1.25 mllion barrier draw after a poor draw saw Swayzee drift. Picture: Pacepix

Champion stayer Swayzee will have to do something he has never done before to win Friday night’s $1.25 million Group 1 Nullarbor at Gloucester Park.

For all his greatness, Swayzee has been able to bludgeon his way to the front for the five biggest wins of his stellar career.

From barrier 10, as the lone back row runner and with local star Minstrel drawn so well, Swayzee won’t be able to find the lead this time.

The three times Swayzee hasn’t found the lead in a “major”, he has been beaten. He ran third in the 2023 Inter Dominion final, second in last year’s Blacks A Fake and a luckless fourth in last month’s Miracle Mile.

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Since the draw, Swayzee’s odds have drifted from $2 to $2.80. He’s been replaced as favourite by Minstrel at $2.40.

Champion WA trainer Gary Hall Sr, who has won more major Gloucester Park races than anyone else, said the draw had ruined Swayzee’s chances.

“With Minstrel drawn to lead, Swayzee can’t beat him around this (Gloucester Park) track now,” he said. “I’m not sure anything can beat Minstrel now.”

Minstrel will start from gate four and driver Deni Roberts will almost certainly work forward and take the early lead.

The winners of the two Nullarbors run so far – Betterzippit (2023) and Catch A Wave (2024) – both drew gate four.

🏆 He came, he saw, he conquered!

Swayzee is in contention to win the $1million Carnival of Cups bonus after winning the 2024 Cherry City Cup at the Young Carnival of Cups tonight.

We caught up with driver Cam Hart after the success 👇 pic.twitter.com/W4VLLy1UwM

— Harness Racing NSW (@HRNSW_Harness) November 8, 2024

• Field, betting for The Nullarbor on Friday night

Hall Sr admits his own runner, the exciting Mister Smartee, faces a huge task now from a wide draw (gate seven).

“I’m not sure we can win either. Our only chance is if Swayzee comes around and declares Swayzee on and we can stalk them and be the last horse standing,” he said.

Ryan Bell, who has outsider Waverider drawn gate three, is also strongly in the Minstrel corner: “It’s Minstrel’s race to lose, now.”

But Swayzee’s ever confident trainer Jason Grimson doesn’t see barrier 10 as a major hurdle.

Swayzee's trainer Jason Grimson (left) and driver Cam Hart celebrate their champ's NZ Cup victory last year. Picture: HRNZ

“I actually like it. We’re the only horse off the second row and it wouldn’t surprise me if we landed in front of a few of our main dangers after the start,” he said.

“He’s good enough to go around and sit outside them and win, so the draw doesn’t bother me.

“Sure, if he’s drawn better he might have got around the field quicker, but he’s got enough time (in a 2536m race) to get around and bully them.”

Grimson, who won the inaugural Nullarbor with Betterzippit and had Hot And Treacherous run seventh last year, can’t wait to unleash Swayzee.

“I’ve brought a different horse across this year, he’s a superstar,” he said.

🏆 ID24

We caught up with driver Deni Roberts today who reflected on Minstrel's #ID24 heat win at Newcastle last night. Check it out 👇 pic.twitter.com/kUN636cVDV

— Harness Racing NSW (@HRNSW_Harness) November 30, 2024

The gruelling staying trip is certainly Swayzee’s biggest plus.

The seven-year-old has raced 11 times beyond 2500m for seven wins, two seconds, a third and a fourth.

Those wins include two NZ Cups, the Hunter Cup and a Blacks A Fake.

Interstate raiders have won both Nullarbors so far. Swayzee and defending champion Catch A Wave are the only two runners from outside WA this year.

• Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.

Originally published as 2025 Nullarbor: Champion trainer Gary Hall Sr says tough draw means Swayzee can’t beat Minstrel at Gloucester Park