Canberra sprinter Fell Swoop’s quest for a first Group One win could be a little easier with English unlikely to run in the BTC Cup.
Trainer Gai Waterhouse has indicated the All Aged Stakes winner will be saved for the Doomben 10,000 on May 28.
With English still in the BTC Cup market as the $3.20 favourite, Fell Swoop is at $3.50.
Fell Swoop went past $1 million prize money with his win in Saturday’s Group Two Victory Stakes at Doomben, his first success above Listed level.
He has run in three Group One races this season, the most recent when second to Chautauqua in the TJ Smith Stakes.
Both trainer Matt Dale and jockey Jay Ford believe Fell Swoop is close to his first Group One win after he showed great heart to gather in Didntcostalot on Saturday.
“The runner-up Didntcostalot flies around Doomben and to be able to dig deep and run him down was a top effort,” Dale said.
The gelding became agitated before Saturday’s race and Dale believes further experience on big race days will also help him mature.
He has him housed in the country atmosphere at Matt Dunn’s Murwillumbah stable to help him cope with his upcoming program.
Ford, filling in for the suspended Damien Oliver, agreed Fell Swoop would be improved by the run and had yet to reach his peak.
“He is still learning. The margin wasn’t there but it was a tradesman like performance,” Ford said.
