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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Roger James remembers going home with his tail between his legs after his last trip to Gosford so he has the fingers crossed Group 1 placed sprinter Sweynesday can kick off his Australian campaign on a more positive note.

It was some 30 years ago or so James recalls heading to the Central Coast track with a horse expected to win and not getting the result he wanted.

An awkward set up has him a bit more reserved for when Sweynesday takes on the Listed $250,000 De Bortoli Wines Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) but he said he hasn’t been let down yet by the lightly raced five-year-old.

Sweynesday, $7.50 with TAB on Thursday, ran third behind Jigsaw in the Group 1 Railway Handicap before winning a Group 3 King’s Plate at Ellerslie in March.

“His lifetime form is very impressive. He’s only been outside the top two once and that was when he ran third behind Jigsaw,’’ James said.

“I can only take a line on what he’s done in New Zealand and he hasn’t disappointed. People could say he was lucky to win his last start, he probably was (the favourite Alabama Lass lost the rider).

“His main aim is the Stradbroke, he had to go through Sydney and it was a nice race to kick off in we think.”

ANOTHER AUSSIE WIN! 🇦🇺

Jigsaw makes it 4 wins in a row winning the G1 Railway first-up at @Ellerslie_Races! 🏆@Logez27 gets a double and Cindy Alderson gets her first Group 1 win! 👏 pic.twitter.com/FOOevd8n2E

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 24, 2026

Sweynesday runs third in the Railway at Ellerslie (Video: Sky Racing on X)

The gelding arrived in Sydney earlier this week along with co-trainer Robert Wellwood.

James said he knows he has a horse with a versatile racing pattern, he did sit outside the leader before winning his last start, but is a little concerned about where he’ll end up in the run.

“They might be a bit quicker from the barrier than they are at home,’’ he said.

“He’s a pretty trouble free horse but it’s not going to be that easy from the barrier. We’ll leave it to Andrew (Adkins) to sort out whether he can be on pace at all but the draw is a niggle.

“He arrived on Monday night and he just hit the ground running, he has a great attitude, and Robert says he hasn’t missed a beat.

“We’re going to be guided by this, his grand final is in five weeks time so he’s not screwed down for this.

“He hasn’t trialled and whatever he does with 59kg on his back drawn 11 he’s going to improve on. Having said that I’d be disappointed if he wasn’t in some way competitive.”

That grand final is the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap and James said Sweynesday has the type of profile that tells him he’s the right sort of horse for that race.

He’ll likely go to the BRC Sprint or Kingsford Smith Cup assuming all goes well at Gosford.

“I’ve won a lot of good handicaps over the years and so often I’ve won them when they’ve been in the right place in the handicaps,’’ he said.

“If he makes the field in the Stradbroke he should make it in the right place in the handicap.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Gosford meeting