Equiano encore as The Show Goes On

The Show Goes On lived up to his name with a front-running victory in the Sportsbet Cash Card Plate (1211m) on Wednesday.

It was the latest encore for Swettenham Stud shuttler Equiano (Fr) who started the week with English stakes winner The Tin Man.

The Show Goes On (3g Equiano – Subtle Breeze by Storm Cat) started an odds-on favourite second time out at Gawler and trainer Lloyd Kennewell believes the bare facts of a narrow neck victory don’t do him justice.

“It should have been a much bigger margin,” Kennewell claimed.  “He led them up and I thought he would race right away in the straight.  But it was a Heavy 8 and it wasn’t easy in that going.

“That was only his second start and now I will look for a suitable Saturday race in town.  He’s got ability alright but I want to keep him on dry tracks.  If we get a wet spell in Adelaide, I will tip him straight out and bring him back for the spring.”

The Show Goes On is a younger half-brother to Group 1 star Trust In A Gust who has returned home to cover his first book at Nagambie this year.  They are members of a Swettenham family going back several generations.

Their dam Subtle Breeze is a three-quarter sister to Balanchine (Storm Bird), a Robert Sangster bred filly who won the 1994 Irish Derby and English Oaks.  Swettenham owner Adam Sangster bought Subtle Breeze during a Keeneland dispersal of his father’s bloodstock portfolio in November 2007.

Subtle Breeze’s 2yo is named Artistic Design (Master Of Design) and trainer Lee Freedman had G1 Blue Diamond designs for the colt before he went shin-sore.  Swettenham sold the mare’s yearling colt by Pierro to Belmont Bloodstock agent Damon Gabbedy at the Melbourne Premier in March and her latest foal is a filly by Equiano.

Equiano has been on fire in England this year where he leads all third-season sires for wins just two months into the season.  And The Show Goes On sent his Australian second-season wins tally to 32 on Wednesday.

His Hong Kong record is due for an update this Sunday when Dancing Flames runs in the Piper’s Hill Hcp (1000m).  Champion jockey Joao Moreira has been booked to ride for the first time down the straight course at Sha Tin.

Swettenham Stud stands Equiano for a $13,750 (inc gst) service fee.