Fell Swoop Could Tackle G1 Sprint First-up
- Sunday, 29 November 2015 07:05
Canberra trainer Matthew Dale is looking to thrust Fell Swoop into the Group One cauldron at his first run from a spell.
Dale hopes to target the Oakleigh Plate with the gelding in February next year and says the four-year-old, who returns to work this week, could go to the Group One 1100m handicap at Caulfield without a lead-up race.
"It could be the Oakleigh Plate first-up at this stage," Dale said.
"I'll just see how quickly he comes up and how well he comes up."
The Galaxy in Sydney is another feature sprint on the radar for Fell Swoop as Dale chases his first Group One win.
Dale has carefully planned out Fell Swoop's career and the son of Not A Single Doubt has risen to every challenge so far, winning eight of his 10 starts.
"He's the best horse that I've had and he's still very raw and he's still got a lot of upside," Dale said.
"He's got a great record and a great will to win and it's still all ahead of him. So it is exciting heading into the autumn with a horse like that.
"Obviously he's got to take a step up from Listed grade, but I definitely think he can."
Fell Swoop's five-run campaign last preparation included four wins in a row from the start of August until mid-September with Listed wins at Moonee Valley and Caulfield.
His most recent win in the Testa Rossa Stakes, when the gelding showed his fighting qualities to rally and keep his head in front, was his first experience racing at the home of the Oakleigh Plate.
Fell Swoop is completing a week's pre-training before his scheduled return to Dale's stable on Tuesday to start his build-up.
"We'll see how he comes up and how much he improves this preparation and we'll be looking towards possibly the Oakleigh Plate and then three weeks later The Galaxy," Dale said.
