Modern Swinger On Song For Silver Collar

MODERN Swinger gives away plenty of big race experience, but trainer Chris O'Brien is optimistic about the dog's prospects in Thursday's $10,000-to-the-winner Sportsbet Dapto Silver Collar.

Modern Swinger comes from the prolific Fernando Bale x Banjo Tifia litter which collectively has earned more than $213,000 courtesy of 47 wins and 52 placings from 171 starts.

FIELDS AND FORM DAPTO THURSDAY NIGHT

Only his top-class litter sister Mortified, currently sidelined due to injury, has earned more than Modern Swinger which on Thursday will have just his 19th race start.

All but one of Modern Swinger's 18 starts have been at Wentworth Park and Thursday's night's assignment is the dog's first at Dapto, a track he knows well.

"He's trialled at Dapto plenty of times in the past and he went well in a box-to-box there last Friday," O'Brien said.

It was a night of doubles last night at @wentyparkgreys, with Mary Hughes, Tom Rees and Chris O'Brien all walking away with two winners, Chris O'Brien winning with Quantifiable in Race 6, and Modern Swinger winning later in on in a #BON 29.77.

#thedogs #wentywednesdays pic.twitter.com/Ge6ewYze3j

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) May 4, 2023

"He was going so well early in the piece that it played out that he's done basically all of his racing at Wentworth Park.

"It's just got to the point where I've had to get him away from there.

"It's time to mix things up with him and this looks a good target."

Modern Swinger has drawn box five on Thursday but O'Brien is confident his charge has the speed to offset the tricky draw.

"My bloke's capable of going 5.40 to the mark and if he does that I'd expect him to cross those drawn to his inside and from there it becomes a case of can he hold out those drawn to his outside?" he said.

"The dog is fit and well and if he leads I think he's got a really good show."

Champion bitch She's A Pearl has drawn box eight in the Silver Collar while last year's winner He's Grand will attempt to emulate last year's victory from the same draw – box two.

"She's (A Pearl) naturally going to be hard to beat but if he can get to the front and hold her out he's half a show," O'Brien said.

"My dog is the up and comer in the race whereas most of them have been around for a fair while.

"I reckon he's capable of going 29.6, 29.7 if he lands in front and the conditions are right.

"If that happens he'll take some beating."