Sister’s advice reaps rewards for Swain

Respected Invercargill horseman Murray Swain has good reason to be thankful he heeded the advice of his late sister Denice, a Group 1-winning trainer, and bought Sniper’s Lair out of a Christchurch mixed sale in 2015.

“Denice told me that she had one of Sniper’s Lair’s family on her property and that I should buy her,” Murray recalled.

Swain and close friend Brian Fern paid a modest $3,200 for the unraced Sniper’s Lair at auction.

She was a half-sister to five winners, including Group 3 Victorian winner National Gallery, and to the dams of the 2023 A. G. Hunter Cup winner Honolua Bay, millionaire pacer None Bettor, and the speedy Abouttime—all sub-1:50 performers.

The Changeover mare has produced four foals of racing age, with three already notching up victories. Her latest success story is her fourth foal, Fernco Nel, who posted his second career win at Albion Park last Friday. Overcoming a tough draw and wide trip, the colt stopped the clock in a career-best 1:54.8 over 2138 metres.

He had previously won at Invercargill in 1:59.9 for Branxholme trainer-driver Kirk Larsen back in April.

< b>Sniper’s Lair’s first foal, Major Fernco (by Art Major), was sold to Queensland interests after just his second start. He went on to win 10 races at Albion Park before being exported to North America, where he has added another 16 victories and taken a mark of 1:50.6. He now boasts earnings of $256,631.

Another of her progeny, Stillyourshot (by Gold Ace), was sold to Swain’s long-time friends Wayne Pope and Alistair Mackintosh. He has picked up three wins to date under the guidance of Ryal Bush trainer Brett Gray.

Since foaling Fernco Nel in 2021, Sniper’s Lair has produced a yearling colt by Vincent named Fernco Vinny and a weanling filly by Lord Forbes. Unfortunately, she missed to Ultimate Machete last season.

Murray—brother of decorated trainer Robin Swain—has been responsible for breeding or selling numerous winners over the past four decades, including Slash An Burn, a multiple winner on the lucrative Victorian country cups circuit; the outstanding Perth performer Hayton Brain; and Scoots (1:50.8), a former Australasian mile record holder.

“I’ve probably sold more horses than the races I’ve won!” Swain laughed.

A commercial eel fisherman by trade and long-time stablehand, Swain is feeling optimistic about the future of harness racing in New Zealand following the landmark partnership between Entain and TAB NZ.

“I think if the industry can maintain the momentum at the moment, especially down here in Southland where the stakemoney they’ve put in seems to be working with increased field sizes and more races. If the stakemoney is sustainable at this level I think we could start to turn things around. I think at this stage there’s a lot of positives,” Swain said.