Trainer Matt Dale is confident stable star Fell Swoop is offered his best chance of a maiden win at the highest level to date when he lines up for the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m) in Brisbane on Saturday.
Matt Dale is confident Fell Swoop will be tough to beat in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 this weekend. Photo: Daniel Costello
Fell Swoop has returned to racing in career-best form to date this time, but remains yet to break through for an elusive Group 1 victory; finishing second in each of the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) and Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) most notably through five starts in 2016.
Caught wide and luckless before finishing fifth in the Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben a fortnight ago, Dale told Racing Ahead he is confident Fell Swoop’s allocation of the rails draw this weekend, as well as the return of Zac Purton to the saddle will go a long way towards winning the 2016 Doomben 10,000.
“Tomorrow we’ve come up with barrier 1, which we are very happy about,” Dale said.
“Obviously he drew barrier 10 (last time) and barriers are so important around Doomben. We found that out well and truly there the other day.
“After the run the other day, Zac’s manager contacted me and said Zac would love to ride him in the Doomben 10,000 after watching the BTC Cup. He said the run was massive under the circumstances.
“Zac rode Fell Swoop to his career-best performance, which was second in the TJ Smith Stakes behind Chautauqua.
“Zac’s got a good affiliation with Brisbane and Doomben racetrack. We are very happy to have him back out and aboard.
“Those two things combined, from an inside gate, I think we are better placed tomorrow than we were in the BTC Cup.”
Fell Swoop has been a standout performer through his entire racing career since first appearing on course competitively in 2014; posting a commendable nine wins and three minors through fifteen starts.
Progressing to fourth in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) following his first-up run in the Oakleigh Plate this time, the Not A Single Doubt gelding undoubtedly produced a career-best effort to date for second behind Chautauqua in the TJ Smith Stakes during The Championships.
Having arrived in Brisbane for success in the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m), in what was his only other start prior to the BTC Cup, Fell Swoop is currently available at 2016 Doomben 10,000 odds of $5 for success with Ladbrokes.com.au.
