Swing Pattern

Swing Pattern deserves another chance after his performance in finishing third in a seven-furlong maiden at Listowel on Thursday. He just got little outpaced before staying on again and he could be more effective stepped back up in trip again next time. John Oxx’s colt was odds-on favourite here, and he looked to be travelling well for Fran Berry just in behind the leader throughout, but it took him a little while to pick up when the pace lifted as they turned for home, and he looked to be well-beaten when Indicative moved past him a furlong out. But to his credit, he kept at it really well, he stayed on well on the far side and had to be switched again around Indicative as Eighteen Summers got up to just do him for the runner-up spot.

This was a pleasing effort from Swing Pattern, a half-brother to top class miler Arch Swing, on just his second ever run. He stayed on admirably, he was only beaten a neck and a head, and he probably would have been even closer if he hadn’t had to be switched late on. This run left the impression that he would be better back over a mile, the same distance over which he had finished second to Photo Opportunity on his debut at Killarney. Photo Opportunity went on to finish a highly creditable fourth in the September Handicap at Leopardstown on his next star, Move, has come out and won her maiden.

16th September 2010