Oxx to bring Swing for fillies' showdown
Wednesday 2nd May, 2007
John Oxx pictured above.
Trainer John Oxx pictured above
JOHN OXX this afternoon revealed that Arch Swing is on course to line up in the Stan James 1000 Guineas at Newmarket this Sunday.
The unbeaten daughter of Arch suffered a minor setback not long after she achieved her third career success in Leopardstown’s Dimitrova 1000 Guineas Trial. But Oxx reports that Arch Swing, a 16-1 shot with the sponsors for the fillies’ classic, swiftly shrugged off whatever was ailing her and is ready to take her chance.
Oxx told www.newmarketracecourses.co.uk: “The plan is to run. She has been in good form and we have been happy with her work.
“She had a setback a couple of weeks ago. She had a temperature but it wasn’t caused by the respiratory system. That has enabled her to bounce out of it a bit quicker than you would normally find.
“Obviously, it is not an ideal situation but she seems none the worse for it. It was an interruption to her momentum and routine but it doesn’t appear to have affected her. She is in good health now.”
Arch Swing has yet to go beyond seven furlongs before and it remains to be seen whether she will get every yard of the stiff mile at Newmarket. Oxx agreed there might be a question mark over the trip but is sure the filly won’t be inconvenienced by ground conditions, which look like being on the quick side.
The Co.Kildare-based handler said: “It should be fine for her - she likes it on the fast side.”
With Finsceal Beo as the favourite and Miss Beatrix and Arch Swing as runners worthy of respect, the Irish challenge for the 1000 Guineas lappears a strong one.
Summing up his charge, Oxx added: “We have always liked her. She has a lot of good qualities and is worthy of her place in the race.”
In other 1000 Guineas news, Newmarket-based trainer Jeremy Noseda worked both of his entries Sander Camillo and Simply Morning this morning. Sander Camillo had her big-race pilot Frankie Dettori on board for a spin on the Al Bahathri, while Simply Perfect shaped well on the same polytrack gallop.
By Tony Rushmer