Highly regarded debutant Swerving defied a betting drift to make the best possible start to her career in an 1100m maiden at Geelong on Wednesday.
The Leon and Troy Corstens-trained daughter of Extreme Choice was given a sweet ride by Damien Oliver who tracked the leader Toronasaurus Rex.
When that son of Toronado gave a kick around the turn, it allowed Oliver to ease out on Swerving.
It took until the final 100m for Toronasaurus Rex to surrender his lead as Swerving hit the line hard for an impressive long-neck win.
The Shooting To Win gelding Shootthelightsout was three and a quarter lengths back in third ahead of the fast-finishing More Than Ready (USA) colt Oughton.
“She’s always shown a hell of a lot of ability. She’s by a sire that is on fire, Extreme Choice, and we have always had a big opinion of her so to come here and see her do it is fantastic,” Troy Corstens said.
‘She has not been stress free the whole way through. She has had her fair share of niggling injuries and had taken time to mature.
“She is a big framed horse and doesn’t carry a lot of weight, but we try and keep her that way.
“It will be interesting to see where she will get to. Maybe the fillies races at Moonee Valley over the summer will suit.”
Swerving was a $110,000 purchase for Malua Bloodstock from the Gilgai Farm draft at the 2020 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale.
She is the third winner from five to race out of the Grade II Comely Stakes winner Sherine (USA) (Precise End) who was retired after foaling Swerving.
From the family of Grade 1 Arkansas Derby winner and Grade 1 Kentucky Derby runner-up Bodemeister (Empire Maker), Sherine was purchased as a broodmare prospect by Vin Cox Bloodstock for $245,000 at the 2009 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.
Newgate Farm’s Champion First Crop Sire and Champion 2yo Sire Extreme Choice has ten yearlings heading to the Magic Millions and nine lots catalogued for the Inglis Classic.
