Emerald Shine ‘Meant To Be' For Swindled

HAVING defied the odds in overcoming two Achilles tendon injuries, Victorian speedster Swindled is boxed to continue his remarkable resurgence in Sunday afternoon's Sportsbet Emerald (300m) at Healesville.

After patiently guiding Swindled back to elite company, Pearcedale owner/trainers Keith and Lisa Hellmuth are hoping fate is on their side after a last minute decision to target the $30,000 to-the-winner Emerald.

"It wasn't our intention to go there at all," Lisa explained.

FIELDS AND FORM HEALESVILLE ON SUNDAY

"We went to Bulli (Group 2 Gold Cup) and then gave the (G3) Temora Cup heats a bash.

"We didn't realise there was a Consolation at Temora, but then we were told Swindled was being drawn in the Consolation last Sunday. We'd been thinking about the Murray Bridge Cup heats, which were supposed to be on Monday.

"In the end, we scratched from the Temora Consolation under the heat policy and then we saw the Emerald was on. 

"We trial regularly at Healesville, so we thought with the four-dog heats it was a half-field trial, so we may as well throw him in.

"He won his heat and he's drawn box one for the final, so we're hoping it was meant to be!"

Swindled, which ran a close third in the Bulli Gold Cup last month, again showcased his straight track prowess in Wednesday's unique Emerald heats.

The March '21 son of Aussie Infrared and Headline claimed his second win from three starts over 300m with a slick 16.51sec victory, while he's also two from three over 350m at Healesville.

The even nature of the field for the second running of the Emerald is underlined with Swindled one of three heat winners to share the third fastest time behind fastest qualifier My Magic Man (16.41sec).

With the innovative concept seeing the fastest eight times from the heats, regardless of finishing position, make the final, there is just over two lengths separating the field on qualifying times.

As such, the box draw was critical, and Swindled was the big winner, being allocated box one, from where he posted his Healesville PB of 16.42ec in December.

"I was rapt when I saw what box Swindled had drawn and even happier when I saw Spot Fox was out of box two," Hellmuth said.

"Spot Fox ran pretty wide in its heat, so we're hoping we get a nice, clear run.

"They ran 16.67sec in the first heat, with Andrew Paraskevas' good dog Maybe Yesterday running third, so coming out of box seven and in very wet conditions, I was really happy with Swindled running 16.51sec.

"I think the Ennis' dog, My Magic Man, is the one to beat. If you look at its first sections at The Meadows, it runs 5.00s and we can't run that.

"The field is so even. I think whoever jumps and misses the interference will win."

Swindled is $4.50, with NSW straight course supremo Shall Not (box 6) and My Magic Man (box 7) sharing favouritism at $2.80. 

In yet another feature race clash – again demonstrating why the Group calendar needs addressing – the Emerald combatants have been denied the opportunity to tackle Monday night's G2 Shepparton Cup heats.

Five Shepparton Cup heats were drawn on Friday, with only one run-off having a full field of eight.