Victory Stakes Fell Swoop’s For The Taking

Only six horses were included in the nominations for the 2016 Victory Stakes that were released earlier in the week and unless there are some surprise late entries, the talented Fell Swoop will start the race as a dominant favourite.

Fell Swoop showed that he was a horse with plenty of talent when he recorded eight wins in his first ten starts– including the Listed Chandler Macleod Stakes at Moonee Valley and the Testa Rossa Stakes at Caulfield during the spring but he has stamped himself as a genuine Group 1 contender this preparation.

The son of Not A Single Doubt started his preparation with a very close second to Flamberge in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 27 and he made up ground strongly again to finish fourth in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 19.

Fell Swoop was expected to struggle under weight-for-age level conditions against the best sprinters in the country in the TJ Smith Stakes but he showed an exceptional turn-of-foot once again and would have claimed a maiden Group 1 victory if it were not for the astonishing performance of Chautauqua.

While there is no doubt that Fell Swoop can now be more than competitive at Group 1 level, a win at Group level is still missing from his racing resume and he will have an outstanding chance to rectify that on Saturday.

Fell Swoop could face up to nine rivals in the Victory Stakes– after Artlee, Rock Royalty, Charlie Boy and Pinch River were all included as late entries– but on his TJ Smith Stakes form he has a couple of lengths on this field and he can start what could be a career defining winter campaign with a win.

Favourites have a simply outstanding record in the Victory Stakes and Spirit Of Boom in 2014 is the only favourite to be beaten in the race since 2007 as Srikandi (2015), Buffering (2011 and 2013), Ghetto Blaster (2010) and Swiss Ace (2008 and 2009) all record comfortable victories as the punter’s elect (the meeting was abandoned in 2012).

Fell Swoop will press on to the BTC Cup at Doomben on May 14 if he performs up to expectations in the Victory Stakes and the Doomben 10,000 at Doomben on May 28 and the Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm on June 11 are all on the agenda for the four-year-old.

Trainer Matthew Dale admits that Fell Swoop may not make it to the Stradbroke Handicap as he has been up in running since February, but he is currently available at $13 in the 2016 Stradbroke Handicap betting market.

Srikandi won the Victory Stakes before capturing the Stradbroke Handicap last year and this Saturday’s race has always proven a strong form reference for the rest of the Group 1 sprints during the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.