Terry Kelly from Coghills Creek is contemplating a bold move by entering the seasoned stayer Skelm in the $500,000 Ballarat Cup this Saturday.
This decision comes after Skelm’s near-retirement due to a tendon injury last September.
Kelly opted for a lengthy and gradual rehabilitation process for Skelm, who has been in training since April.
Skelm recently finished third in a 1300m jumpout at Ararat on November 29 and had a 1400m gallop before that.
Confident in Skelm’s readiness for a 2000m race, Kelly is weighing whether to run him in the Ballarat Cup or a Benchmark 84 race, both over the same distance.
Kelly, who trains just a few horses at his Coghills Creek property, has plans for Skelm’s future, targeting either the Hobart and Launceston Cups next year or the Torney Cup, which Skelm won last year.
Skelm’s last race was the 2022 Adelaide Cup where he finished eighth, following a period of strong performance including a second place in the 2022 Bagot Handicap and a victory in the Torney Cup.
