Cushion track gives Swiss Ace advantage during deluge

By Glenn Davis

BRISBANE, March 10 AAP - Queensland's controversial cushion tracks at Caloundra and Toowoomba have received more than their share of criticism since their installation, but Swiss Ace's trainer Mick Mair remains a firm supporter.

As last week's big wet over southeast Queensland denied grass work in some areas, Mair has been able to work his Oakleigh Plate winner as normal on the Sunshine Coast cushion track.

"We had more than 300 millimetres of rain last week and they were running 33 seconds (for 600 metres) here last week," Mair.

"The rain was so heavy the horses were just a blur.

"Swiss Ace has worked on the cushion since the day the track was installed a couple of years ago."

The two cushion tracks are well suited to wet conditions but critics have given the artificial surfaces the thumbs down in excessive heat.

Swiss Ace has been back in light work for almost a month ahead of a Brisbane winter carnival campaign which will include the Group One Doomben 10,000 and Group One Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm.

Swiss Ace, who won last year's Oakleigh Plate, is ready to step up to fast work next week after which Mair plans to map out his carnival campaign.

"He's been doing pace work and going well but he's now ready to do fast work," Mair said.

Mair is uncertain when Swiss Ace will resume but hasn't ruled out going first-up into the Listed Weetwood Handicap (1300m) at Toowoomba on April 15.

"He'll probably have one run and it could be in the Weetwood before he gets down to the serious business for the winter," he said.

Swiss Ace burst onto the scene as a serious sprinter by winning the Listed Chief De Beers (1100m) at Doomben in March 2008 and followed up that victory by claiming the Weetwood Handicap and Group Two Sir Byrne Hart Stakes at Eagle Farm at his next two starts.

The entire failed behind Mr Baritone in the 2008 Stradbroke on a wet track before being taken to Melbourne to claim the Group One Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield before he was runner-up to Scenic Blast in the Group One Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.

Swiss Ace won last year's Group Two Sir Byrne Hart (1200m) but later went amiss while being prepared for the Group One Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley in September.

The son of Secret Savings had a small bone chip removed during surgery on his nearside foreleg which forced Mair to abandon his spring and autumn plans.

Although the cushion track at Caloundra has been an advantage for Swiss Ace, Mair is hoping the winter carnival will be dry.

"The last few winter carnivals have been wet but I'm taking the punt this year's carnival will be dry," he said.

"Surely after all the rain we've had recently there isn't any more up there."

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