Trainer Matthew Dale has revealed that talented sprinter Fell Swoop could have his next race start in the 2015 Testa Rossa Stakes at Caulfield on September 19.
Fell Swoop claimed his maiden win at Stakes level in The Club Cup Stakes at Moonee Valley on Saturday. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Fell Swoop earnt an opportunity at stakes level in the Listed The Cup Club Stakes (1200m) after he recorded two comfortable wins in Sydney at Rosehill Gardens on August 1 and Royal Randwick on August 22 and he justified his betting support with another soft win in the Listed event.
Dale said he is yet to decide the exact path that Fell Swoop will follow during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival, but the Not A Single Doubt gelding could contest the Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1200m) on September 19 and have one more race start before he heads to the spelling paddock.
“I am not 100 percent sure,” Dale said.
“We will hone in on a plan towards the end of the week, but he has pulled up well so far.
“It could be as early as a fortnight between runs down to Caulfield for the Listed race, but I will have to see how he does during the week in regards to bringing him back down that quickly.
“I think he will probably have two more runs and then getting out for a break.
“I would like to think he could get into an Oakleigh Plate with improvement and he is improving race to race and prep on prep.”
While Dale is not certain when Fell Swoop will have his next race start, the rising trainer was clearly thrilled with the performance of his star galloper in The Cup Club Stakes and he remains confident that the four-year-old can continue to improve as he gains more racing experience.
“He just keeps winning this preparation as we step-up in grade,” Dale said.
“I thought he overcame the challenges of the first time Melbourne way of going and Moonee Valley, which he wasn’t totally comfortable there around the bend, but once he balanced up he was very strong late.
“Leading into the race I could see the speed come out as the day went on because of the pattern of racing and Galaxy Pegasus was slow to begin, which took further speed out of the race.
“It ended up a little bit of a tricky situation, but that is why the likes of Damien Oliver can go to plan b pretty quickly and he knew that they had gone slow enough, so he wasn’t concerned cutting back to the inside.”
Fell Swoop was purchased for $45,000 at the 2013 Inglis Classic Summer Yearling Sale and he has already acquired over $200,000 in prizemoney.
