Fell Swoop will be aimed at the Doomben 10,000
Fell Swoop will not defend the Group Two Victory Stakes at Eagle Farm with trainer Matt Dale opting to keep him fresh for a bigger assignment in Brisbane.
Fell Swoop would have been favourite for Saturday’s sprint but will instead run in a barrier trial at Goulburn a day earlier.
“It is nothing to do with being afraid of any other runner or anything to do with reports about the track,” Dale said.
“He is being aimed at the (Group One) Doomben 10,000 in a bit over two weeks which is now being run at 1200 metres.
“The idea is to keep him on the fresh side after his last-start third in the TJ Smith Stakes.”
“He deserves a Group One win and this will give him his best chance.”
Fell Swoop finished behind Chautauqua and English in the TJ Smith on April 1.
Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker will wait until Thursday night before deciding whether last year’s Doomben 10,000 winner Music Magnate runs in the Victory Stakes.
Only seven horses were accepted for the Victory Stakes with Music Magnate drawing the outside barrier.
Baker’s stable manager Jack Bruce said there was a chance the field could fall away even further.
“We won’t want to be sitting in Sydney while five horses go around in Brisbane. But we will have to see how the weather plays out,” Bruce said.
“He doesn’t have to go up on a float until Thursday night so we will see the situation then.”
