Canberra horseman Matthew Dale has a big hope of securing a black-type Melbourne feature this weekend at Moonee Valley saddling-up race favourite Fell Swoop in Saturday’s The Cup Club Stakes 2015.
Fell Swoop is favourite to win the 2015 The Cup Club Stakes at Moonee Valley this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.
Formerly known as the Drummond Golf Stakes, this year’s $120,000 Listed The Cup Club Stakes (1200m) runs as Race 6 at 3:25pm (AEST) on Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes Day and features a full field of 14 plus two emergency runners.
Five in the line-up for handicap sprint are under double figures to win in the latest The Cup Club Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au including Dale’s in-form Not A Single Doubt four-year-old Fell Swoop ($3).
Damien Oliver has the ride on the progressive gelding who boasts six wins from eight starts to date including his last two on the trot in Sydney where Shinn had the ride.
Saturday is his first run in Melbourne and how Fell Swoop handles the opposite way racing will be key to him saluting for the punters and winning three on the trot in his black-type maiden.
Second pick in the markets at $6.50 is then the widely-drawn Gregers who has barrier 14 to overcome with ace hoop Craig Williams aboard the David Hayes & Tom Dabernig-trained mare.
The five-year-old daughter of Commands was runner-up in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) in Adelaide back in May before a sixth in The Goodwood also run at elite level in SA.
Her last start was a first-up seventh when beaten just over three lengths by Le Bonsir in the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley a fortnight ago, a run she is tipped to improve on as she looks to continue her good form at the track (7-3-2-0).
The three other single figure fancies are the rails-drawn Galaxy Pegasus ($7), Rose Of Choice ($7.50) also drawn well in gate three and Chivalry ($7.50).
Lindsay Park stallion Chivalry is a four-year-old son of War Pass who has won three of his seven starts so farm, but none since the Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley last Cox Plate Day in October.
He was last seen running dead last when 14th and beaten just under six lengths by Lucky Hussler ins the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) back in late March, an effort he should do better than this weekend in far easier company.
Lee & Anthony Freedman’s Choisir mare Rose Of Choice also finished at the tail end of her latest lead-up when 12th to Srikandi in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) on the Gold Coast back in June, Saturday the six-year-old’s first Moonee Valley start.
Chivalry has had three previous Moonee Valley runs for one win, the Group 1 performed Street Cry four-year-old last seen crossing 12th in the Listed Bendigo Guineas (1400m) in March.
At longer odds but still boasting claims in The Cup Club Stakes are the likes of the 60kg top weight Fast ‘N’ Rocking ($10), the David Brideoake-trained William Reid Stakes third placegetter Griante ($13) and Carlyon Stakes runner-up at the track last time out Just Magical ($14) getting in on the 54kg minimum with Luke Currie to ride.
See below for the complete The Cup Club Stakes 2015 field, barriers, jockeys, weights and latest Fixed Win odds from Ladbrokes.com.au where this Saturday you can enjoy Best Tote or SP + 20% on your winnings on every Moonee Valley race just out from jump!
