Tasmania’s run of success interstate continued at Caulfield last Saturday when the John Keys-prepared Swift Force took a $130,000 benchmark 78 handicap over 1100 metres.
The highly promising daughter of Magnus jumped straight to the front under Craig Newitt and the result was never really in doubt, the lightly raced filly cruising to a comfortable 2¼-length win.
Keys’s charge has now won four from five, her only defeat thus far coming at the hands of her stablemate Perspiration.
That galloper impressively won a trial at Hobart on Tuesday and is set to resume across Bass Strait when Swift Force has her next start at Caulfield on May 30.
Keys completed a two-state weekend double when Lawrenny Boys took the first event at Hobart on Sunday, a maiden plate over 1100 metres.
It was an overdue first success for the gelded son of Stratosphere, who had placed at six of his past seven attempts. He proved too tough despite facing the breeze under 2kg claimer Polly Brewster.
Mark Ganderton took the training honours at Hobart with a brace of wins headed by the confidently backed The Tazwegian ($3.80-$3.10), who settled midfield before weaving a passage through the field under Jabez Johnstone to take the maiden/Class 1 plate over 2040 metres.
Ganderton completed his double with honest mare Zuni, who enjoyed a box-seat trail under Kirra-Lee Lane before proving too strong in the benchmark 64 handicap over 1200 metres at her third run back from a break.
It was a deserved win for the daughter of Stratosphere, who had been game in defeat at her first two runs this time in.