Primed to return on a winning note

A WIDE draw should do little to stop King Of Swing returning on a winning note.

Given a well-earned break after a successful Queensland campaign in July, King Of Swing will re-emerge at Club Menangle on Saturday night.

Trainer Belinda McCarthy is utilising the 1609-metre sprint to prime the son of Rocknroll Hanover for next week’s Victoria Cup in Bendigo.

“He did well during his time off and has come back feeling terrific,” McCarthy said.

“The Victoria Cup is the first main target with him this time in, so Saturday night’s race fits in perfectly to give him a good blow out before he heads south.”

Although first-up since his third in the Blacks A Fake on July 24, King Of Swing proved he is ready to win with his headline making trial around the 1400-metre circuit last week.

With McCarthy’s husband Luke in the cart, King Of Swing covered the mile in 1:49.9 – just seventh-tenths of a second slower than his quickest race time this season.

As for his pending assignment, the stallion has drawn barrier 11, but slots into 10 with the removal of the emergency.

“We wanted him to have a strong trial to lift his fitness and that’s exactly what he got,” McCarthy said.

“His work since then has gone up another notch and he is as forward as he can be without racing.

“That said, whatever he does on Saturday night he will be better again for the Cup a week later.”