Swing By still a guessing game

When third and final entry was taken on Wednesday, the Bernard Dulal-Whiteway-owned Jamaican-bred filly was left in both the Caribbean Champion Stakes over 1800 metres and the Caribbean Sprint Championship over 1200 metres.

In the stakes race,the daughter of Alisios/Skip By will meet older horses including 2004 Triple Crown winner Top Of The Class and last year’s Derby runner-up Crown Point, and in the sprint she could face off with this year’s Royal Oak Derby winner Sara’s Music.

Connections paid the $400 third and final entry fee for the stakes race, and the $200 for the sprint on Wednesday.

So it is still a question as to which event Swing By, easy winner of her two starts locally by some very wide margins and in excellent times, will go to post.

In the sprint, the filly now trained by local champion (winners) John O’Brien, will have a “softer” field with the only serious challenge anticipated from Sara’s Music, Feelikemakinluv and the in-form Kato.

But in the longer race, she will be taking on Apart from Top Of The Class, Derby runner-up Bling Bling, third placed Greek Princess, Crown Point and Chief Commander.

Swing By’s connections have also paid a $2,200 penalty for her top race in the Gold Cup over 2000 metres to be run off on Boxing Day, December 26. Also paying the $2,200 penalty fee were the commections of Suave Runner and Super Grey.

Third and final entry of $300 will become due on December 13.

Here are the runners for which final entry fees were paid.

Caribbean Champion Stakes (Grade 1) - 1800 Metres:

BLING BLING; CHIEF COMMANDER; CROWN POINT;GREEK PRINCESS; MUCHO TEMPO; PRIVILEGE; SWING BY; TOP OF THE CLASS; URAM.

Caribbean Sprint Championship - 1200 Metres:

ATICKA; CINCO DE MAYO; D’CONTRACTOR; FEELIKEMAKINLUV; KATO; LATONIA; MAN OF CLASS; SARA’S MUSIC;SWING BY.

Gold Cup (Grade 2) - 2000 Metres:

CHIEF COMMANDER; CROWN POINT; FANTASTIC STORY; HELLO YANKEE; ICE TIMBER; MUCHO TEMPO; ROYAL MISS; STRAIGHT AHEAD; SUAVE RUNNER; SUPER GREY; SWING BY; TOP OF THE CLASS; URAM.