By Ray Hickson
If plucky mare Swamp Nation can defend her Country Championships crown at Tuncurry today it would mean the world to trainer Glen Milligan.
Just days after he farewelled his father, the popular trainer Bob Milligan, he said it would be a fitting result if the four-year-old could hand the family a third straight $150,000 Newhaven Park Mid North Coast Country Championships (1400m) win.
Glen Milligan with the late Bob Milligan and his wife Margaret in 2021. Credit:Fairfax
Bob Milligan prepared Charmmebaby to win the race at Scone in 2021, and Swamp Nation gave Glen Milligan his first Championships win when she scored at home at Taree in 2022.
If she is successful, Swamp Nation would be the first Mid North Coast horse to win two Country Championships.
“I’d been talking about it to dad before be passed,” Milligan said.
“I said it’d be good to go back to back to back. He’d be looking down on us and hopefully she can do us all proud. I honestly think she is one of the best chances. There are probably four or five really good chances and the rest are an even lot.”
Swamp Nation started her Championships campaign in early November and Milligan said the mare was responding to being sparingly raced. It has been just over a month since her impressive win in the Pink Silks Cup (1213) at Coffs Harbour on January 8, where she easily accounted for subsequent Queen Of The North winner Boncassie.
“She’s going well and she’s probably the only horse in the race that’s won an open handicap,” he said. “I think she races better with her runs spaced, and that’s why we are five weeks between runs.
“We pulled her out of Rosehill about a fortnight ago and we gave her a 1000m trial at home.”
Swamp Nation has won at 1400m, but Milligan said there was still a small concern over her effectiveness at the trip. Perhaps she will get an extra push from above – so he hopes the speed is on to enable Louise Day to ride her to have the last shot.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
