The Brisbane winter carnival has a habit of showcasing late-maturing juveniles that step out of the shadows at their next preparations, and trainer Annabel Neasham is hoping Swiss Exile fits that bill.
The speedy colt did a good job in his two-year-old season, putting the writing on the wall with his placing behind top youngster Coolangatta in the B J McLachlan Stakes over the summer and returning a few months later to capture the Champagne Classic at Eagle Farm.
He was spelled after beating all but subsequent Group 1 winner Sheeza Belter in the BTC Sires’ Produce Stakes and while mindful Swiss Exile must continue improving, Neasham is looking to the spring with anticipation.
Zaaki rose to prominence during the 2021 winter in Queensland before proving himself one of the country’s best weight-for-age gallopers and while he did it as an older horse, Neasham hopes Swiss Exile can continue on his trajectory and measure up to the Sydney and Melbourne carnivals.
“He’s one of the ones I’m most excited about,” Neasham said.
“He won the Group 2 Champagne up in Brisbane. He’s got to take another step forward to match it with the Sydney colts, but certainly from his trials and what we’ve seen of him at home, he’s an impressive colt.
“He’s got an awful lot of speed and seems to be able to sustain that throughout a run, as we saw him do in Brisbane.”
Swiss Exile will face an immediate test of his credentials when he takes on Golden Slipper placegetter Best Of Bordeaux and Rosebud winner Zoukerino in Saturday’s San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill.
An $9.50 chance, he has drawn barrier seven and will be partnered by Sam Clipperton.
Clipperton rode Best Of Bordeaux in his three starts as a juvenile before Coolmore bought into the colt and replaced him with James Mcdonald, who does the bulk of the riding for the breeding and racing giant.
