Trainer Matt Dale has revealed his stable star Fell Swoop will be set for a light 2016 Spring Carnival campaign, after a long and arduous autumn and winter preparation.
Fell Swoop stamped himself as an exciting prospect for Canberra-based Dale upon debuting to racing in 2014, but undoubtedly kicked up a gear when posting four wins from as many starts last spring; peaking with victories in each of the Listed Cup Club Stakes (1200m) and Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1200m).
The Not A Single Doubt gelding was rated little chance of success in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) first-up this year, but proved he is more than up to the class of the top-level in running an agonizingly-close second.
Progressing to fourth in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m), Fell Swoop undoubtedly produced a career-best performance to date to finish second behind Chautauqua in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) on Day 1 of The Championships.
Returning to winning form upon arriving in Brisbane for success in the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m), Fell Swoop had clearly had enough by the time he placed fifth in the Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m) and sixth in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m).
Dale told Sky Sports Radio the rising five-year-old will only make a few appearances at the races during the forthcoming Spring Carnival, beginning with a race like the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley in late September.
“He’s going to have a pretty light spring,” Dale said.
“It looks like he will have about three runs. The most likely option for him first-up will be the Moir Stakes, or the Schillaci Stakes.”
Purchased for only $45,000, Fell Swoop has posted an impressive nine wins and three minors through only sixteen career starts so far; amassing more than $1 million in prize money.
A number of standout sprinters have already declared their intentions to return to racing in the 2016 Moir Stakes, including Chautauqua and defending champion Buffering.
– horseracing.com.au
