Swapzee Bromac gives Bob McArdle greatest moment of success

Press, 5 December 1986, Page 30

Swapzee Bromac gives Bob McArdle greatest moment of success

By

G. K. YULE

Mr Bob McArdle, of Christchurch, enjoyed his greatest moment of success when Swapzee Bromac won the final of the $200,000 Australasian Pacing Championship at Globe Derby Park, Adelaide, last Saturday.

Mr McArdle, well known for his activities as a stud principal, extensive breeding operations, involvement in the export market and as an owner of racing stock, both thoroughbred and standardbred, has won dozens of races, but none with the prestige of last Saturday’s event. It was only in the days immediately before the start of the Adelaide series that he became the owner of Swapzee Bromac, buying him from Mr lan Payne, of Perth, to whom he had actually sold him early in his career.

Mr McArdle and his wife bred Swapzee Bromac and in a deal involving other horses, he transferred the colt to his associate, Mr Peter O’Rourke, and his wife. After the colt had been in training for some time, Mr McArdle was involved in the sale of Swapzee Bromac to Mr Payne, for whom the buying agent was the prominent Perth trainer, Trevor Warwick. Swapzee Bromac won 14 of 23 starts for Warwick and Mr Payne before Mr McArdle stepped in and bought him back, deciding to race him in Adelaide before passing him on to Mr Lou Guida, of New York, one of the most famous owners in the United States. Mr McArdle did not travel to Adelaide to see Swapzee Bromac gain a second and a win in a heat, being represented there by Mr O’Rourke.

Swapzee Bromac was the third favourite for the rich event at 5/1. Under the preferential draw system he started from No. 1 at the barrier and was quickly in front, running his rivals off their feet and rating a track record Imin 59.9 s for the 2230 m. In the end he lasted to beat another New Zea-land-bred horse in My Lightning Blue, and Smiley Lad. “He didn’t look to be travelling all that fast, but it became obvious that he was going pretty hard when none of the others tried to pressure him during the race,” said Mr O’Rourke. Swapzee Bromac, which won the $90,000 in Adelaide, is a four-year-old entire by Boyden Hanover from Sta Sera, by Keep Away, tracing back to Norice, founder of one of the most successful families in the Stud Book.