Grimson set his defending champion one of the rarest challenges in the history of the great race and the pacer was right up to it.
Swayzee won the Young Cup in country New South Wales on Friday night in order to keep his hopes of winning a $1million bonus series alive.
But in doing so, the horse was then set the almighty task of beating New Zealand’s best pacers on their home soil and in their elite staying test, just four days later.
Many had their doubts about whether the feat could be completed, including one of Swayzee’s owners, Mick Boots, but when the Australian pacer lifted under the urgings of driver Cam Hart, Grimson was proven right.
"There is no right or wrong in this game. It just goes to show you you can win a Young Cup on Friday and come here and win a New Zealand Cup," the trainer said.
"He [Swayzee] was awesome today to fight back like that in this wind."
After his very quick back-up and lengthy travel from NSW to Canterbury, Swayzee could have been forgiven for succumbing to the late challenge of runner-up Don’t Stop Dreaming.
But after being headed in the run home, he lifted tenaciously to win.
"It was unbelievable — I just love this horse," Hart said.
"When Don’t Stop Dreaming came at me he dug in and he was pulling away again at the line ...
"I have always had confidence in this horse and whenever he is in a dog-fight he puts in for me."
Swayzee made a fair beginning and settled well back before Hart moved around three wide with two laps to run.
Shortly before that, Blair Orange and Don’t Stop Dreaming had taken the lead from Merlin (Zachary Butcher).
Swayzee strode to the front and from there dominated the race.
Don’t Stop Dreaming ran a meritorious second placing, and Republican Party stormed home late from well off the place for a creditable third, producing arguably the run of the race outside the winner.
Swayzee’s win completed an Australian double in New Zealand’s premier open-class races after Just Believe cruised to an effortless win in the group 1 Dominion.
The brilliant Victorian has starred on Australian, New Zealand and European racetracks to cement himself as one of Australasia’s greatest trotters.
Though Greg Sugars, husband of trainer Jess Tubbs, has experienced incredible thrills and nine prior group 1 wins with Just Believe, the reinsman was still searching for superlatives after their Dominion victory.
"To come away, winning a race like that the way he did, was just amazing."
Sugars confirmed after the Dominion domination, Just Believe will not only contest the New Zealand Trotting Free-For-All back at Addington on Friday but then head north to Auckland to start at least twice at Alexandra Park next month.
