Schwarz too good in the Hawkesbury Guineas
Three-year-old Schwarz has taken a crucial step towards his Stradbroke Handicap goal, stamping his class at Hawkesbury’s stand-alone meeting with a convincing Guineas triumph.
As his main danger and expected leader Butch Cassidy ($3.70) bungled the start, Schwarz ($2.40 betting fav) bounded out of the gates and straight to the front and that’s where he stayed.
The John O’Shea-trained colt gave nothing else a chance, dictating terms to score by 1-3/4 lengths over Bojangles ($16) with Mchale ($15) third.
O’Shea confirmed Schwarz would now head north for the Fred Best Classic (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 1, a race O’Shea expected he needed to all but win to secure his spot in the field for the $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) two weeks later.
“We’re right where we always wanted to be, which is in the Stradbroke in about a month’s time,” O’Shea said.
“He will go to the Fred Best now….and then hopefully make his way into the Stradbroke field.”
A son of top stallion Zoustar, Schwarz gave a portent of things to come with a Listed win at just his third start last spring.
Saturday’s Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) victory followed his first-up placing behind Brave Mead in the Darby Munro Stakes (1200m) and a luckless sixth to Joliestar in the Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m).
James Mcdonald has ridden the three-year-old in five of his six starts, including the Guineas, and says the colt is a star on the rise.
“He is maturing all the time,” McDonald said.
“He’s a beautiful colt, he’s got the best action. He really glides across the ground and once he got in that position (leading), he was always going to be very, very hard to beat.
“He’s got a great turn of foot and a high cruising speed, so he’s got a lot going for him.”
Schwarz had been a $26 chance in Stradbroke Handicap markets prior to Saturday and firmed into $11 following his Guineas success.
More Racing News
War Machine to target the 2026 Australia Stakes
Top-class sprinter War Machine will resume in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham on Friday night as connections eye a strong autumn campaign. The race, traditionally held at Moonee Valley, has been moved due to redevelopment works and shapes as an ideal launchpad for the Lindsay Park galloper. War Machine...
2026 Golden Slipper Stakes favourite Incognito nearing return to the races
The absence of Incognito from the Magic Millions 2YO Classic did little to dent his standing in Golden Slipper markets, with the colt edging closer to a raceday return. Michael Freedman elected to sidestep the Gold Coast feature with the $1 million purchase, instead opting for a controlled trial as the...
Antino to target 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the Autumn
A strong trial session at Deagon on Tuesday will be highlighted by the return of Antino as Tony Gollan begins plotting another autumn campaign for the talented gelding. Antino has not raced since his disappointing effort in the Group 1 Cox Plate, where he finished last after failing to fire on...
Torque To Be Sure breaks maiden in 2026 Magic Millions Guineas, survives protest
Torque To Be Sure finally lived up to his promise with a breakthrough victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 3yo Guineas, though his success came with a nervous wait in the stewards’ room. The Matthew Dunn-trained gelding drifted under pressure in the closing stages, bumping race favourite Ninja as the...
Mile no issue for Merrigold in 2026 Vobis Gold Distaff
Trainer John Sadler admitted a touch of stubbornness delayed Merrigold’s step up to 1600 metres, but the mare made him look wise with a dominant Flemington victory. The five-year-old was having her first start beyond 1400 metres and handled the rise in distance with ease when taking out the Vobis Gold...
Future History too strong in the 2026 January Cup
Future History showed his class and toughness when landing the $200,000 Listed January Cup at Rosehill, giving Ciaron Maher another feature race success. The eight-year-old almost didn’t take his place in the race after heavy rain downgraded the track, but connections elected to press on despite concerns about the conditions. Ridden positively...
Golden Slipper Stakes 2026 plans for Godolphin’s Outspan
The Godolphin-trained Outspan has thrust himself into Golden Slipper calculations after a commanding win at Rosehill on Saturday. After settling just behind the speed in the 1100m contest, the Michael Freedman-trained colt finished strongly to defeat Long Throw ($15) by 1-1/2 lengths, with Miss Chanel ($4.60) another half-length back. The performance marked...
Big Sky surges into 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes calculations
Big Sky’s dominant debut at Flemington has propelled him straight into calculations for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), giving Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr the top two runners in early betting. The Bivouac colt overcame a wide draw in the TAB We’re On (1000m), travelling strongly under Jordan...
Unit Five powers home in the 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Unit Five announced himself as a rising star with a powerful victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, overcoming far more seasoned rivals despite limited race experience. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt, ridden confidently by Thomas Stockdale, held off Tornado Valley by a length, with By Choice finishing just behind...
Mile test for Harry’s Yacht in 2026 Vobis Gold Reef
Will Larkin is confident the timing is right to test Harry’s Yacht over the mile when the gelding contests Saturday’s Vobis Gold Reef at Flemington. The four-year-old has enjoyed a strong preparation to date, registering two wins at benchmark level and adding two placings in Vobis races over 1200 metres. Training in...