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Gwafa wins the Swinton Hurdle

Gwafa, our first ever jumps runner, continued his rapid progression up the jumping ladder on Saturday when the authoritative winner of the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock.

Well supported at 6/1, Gwafa was always travelling well under Richie McLernon and showed a game attitude to fend off All Set To Go in the run to the line.

“He’s a complete professional. He’s a half-brother to Australia Day, who we had so much fun with, and it was this connection that led us to having him,” trainer Paul Webber told Racing UK.

“He seemed to switch off but as soon he got a bit of daylight in the straight, he came alive again. He’s a real street pro. Off his old mark of 92, the Ascot Stakes looks a possibility.”

Gwafa was a smart handicapper for Marco Botti who won his maiden at Newmarket by no less than 19 lengths before running second in a pair of classy handicaps at Haydock and Ascot.

Subsequently sent to Paul Webber, the son of Tamayuz shed his maiden tag over hurdles with an easy success at Fakenham before following up in a novices’ hurdle at Huntingdon. He was sent into Grade 1 company at Aintree following that win and was still travelling well when brought down by a 100/1 shot at the fourth.

Gwafa was a 60,000gns Tattersalls December foal purchase by Tony Nerses in 2011. He was bred by Kenilworth House Stud and is a half-brother to Group 3 winner Marjalina as well as classy hurdler Australia Day.

Gwafa is one of three jumpers we have in training with Paul Webber alongside Idder and My Judge.