Fell Swoop On Trial For Concorde Stakes

Trainer Matthew Dale has revealed that talented sprinter Fell Swoop could head to the 2015 Concorde Stakes if he wins the Rewards Handicap (1000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Fell Swoop finished a very unlucky fourth behind Darciwood first-up in the Bledisloe Cup Festival Handicap (1000m) at Royal Randwick on July 11, but he returned to winning form with a very impressive performance in the Selleys Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 1.

Fell Swoop recorded a very impressive victory at Rosehill Gardens on August 1. Photo by: Steve Hart

Fell Swoop recorded a very impressive victory at Rosehill Gardens on August 1. Photo by: Steve Hart

Dale opted to give Fell Swoop a three week break ahead of his return to racing this weekend and he told Racing Ahead that the Not A Single Doubt gelding could head to the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Royal Randwick on September 5 or the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on the same day if he is able to win this weekend.

“The three weeks between runs suited and back to 1000 leaves a lot of options open into his next start,” Dale said.

“We will obviously get through Saturday and assess, but two weeks later there is the Concorde Stakes back at Randwick over the 1000 and there is also a Group race over 1000 at Moonee Valley on the same day and a 1200 at Moonee Valley the same day.

“That was the reasoning for three weeks between runs and that will place him nicely into three good options, but I will reassess off Melbourne.

“I have always been a little bit guarded about talking any of my horses right up and he is still mentally maturing and that is why he has been very sparingly raced, but off the back of Saturday I feel that will round him off nicely and it is time to give him the option to stand up and step-up in grade.

“At this stage I have no doubt that he has black-type ability, but to what degree of black-type ability we will find out shortly.”

While Dale is unsure about the exact path that Fell Swoop will follow during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival, he could not be happier with the physical condition of the five-year-old at this stage of his preparation and he believes that the gelding has trained on strongly coming out of the Selleys Handicap.

“I am very happy with him,” Dale said.

“He is obviously progressing nicely and it does look like a nice race for him.

“He has come through really well and he has had a couple of nice pieces of work.”

Fell Swoop was purchased for $45,000 at the 2013 Inglis Classic Yearling Summer Sale, but he has already recorded five race wins from his seven race starts and accumulated over $150,000 in prizemoney for connections.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.