Title defence King’s next mission

EARLIER this year he wasn’t considered good enough for a start in the A G Hunter Cup.

In roughly eight weeks time he’ll contest the time-honoured event at Tabcorp Park Melton as the defending champion.

Listed as the emergency, King Of Swing gained a start in the Cup as a result of a scratching before leading throughout the Group One with Gary Hall junior in the cart.

Since then the Craig Cross-trained stallion has established himself as Australia’s premier pacer with victories in three Group Ones.

Triumphant in the Allied Express Sprint and Miracle Mile at Club Menangle, King Of Swing registered his third top shelf win at Albion Park last night.

With Luke McCarthy in the cart, King Of Swing was a class above his rivals in The Blacks A Fake as he cruised to a 12-and-a-half metre win in 1:58.5 over 2680 metres.

The five-year-old’s success also capped off his crowning as Grand Circuit champion.

“He’s had a terrific year,” Cross said. “We were disappointed when he was made the emergency for the Hunter Cup as we felt he was the horse to win it, which is how it panned out.

“Since then he has gone from strength-to-strength and is just in a zone of his own.

“He’ll have the rest of the week off now then on to the water walker and then back into work as he gets ready for the Hunter Cup again.

“Basically he’ll follow the same program as he did before the Hunter Cup earlier this year, with two or three runs at Menangle before going to Melbourne.”

King Of Swing’s win was part of a stellar night for Cross and McCarthy, with the pair also scoring with Lets Katchmeifyoucan, Franco Hampton and Arnold.

Undefeated from four starts since joining Cross’ stable, Arnold secured the Group Two TAB Trotters’ Sprint in 1:55.8 over 1660 metres.