Blue Swede stakes his Derby claim

Blue Swede is moving into the big time in Singapore following his latest success at Kranji. The WS graduate powered into contention for Group One honours with a sterling performance to win over 1600 metres on Sunday.

Shuffled back to the tail of the field, he was in desperate need of room on the point of the bend. Blue Swede’s rider Matthew Kellady was able to get him into the clear and the gelding produced a dazzling turn of foot to reel in his rivals.

Sold by the Matamata farm at Karaka in 2012 for $100,000, Blue Swede has now won six of his 14 starts for trainer and owner Shane Baertschiger. By O’Reilly, the four-year-old is out of the Zabeel mare Hooked Ona Feeling, he is a grandson of the dual Australian Group Two winner Ugachaka.

“We could have run him in the Patron’s Bowl but even with minimum weight, he would have had to contend with the likes of War Affair and it would have been tough,” said trainer and owner Shane Baertschiger. “Here, there was no weight and it was much easier race, so I’m glad I made that decision, but he will definitely be in the (Emirates Singapore) Derby as he is bred to run 2000m.”