The Group 2 Victory Stakes headlines an eight race programme at Doomben today which has attracted some interstate interest.
With Didntcostalot resuming for Tony Gollan, he should put enough speed in the race along with Pinch River from barrier eight which will set it up nicely for a couple off the pace.
Fell Swoopes the trip north for Canberra trainer Matthew Dale and such has been his form this preparation that he will take plenty of beating in the $200,000 race.
Fell Swoop had little luck when returning in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield but still managed to run a very narrow second to Flamberge before hitting the line well for fourth in the Galaxy at Rosehill.
Settling closer to the speed in the Group 1 TJ Smith Fell Swoop produced the best form of his career to run second to Chautauqua with subsequent All Aged Stakes winner English in third.
That effort rates well for a race like this and running to a Timeform figure of 122 on that occasion, if he can run anything close to that today he will be too good for this lot.
Jay Ford takes the ride for the first time and from barrier 2 I would expect him to not be far away in the run and potentially just off the leaders.
Having had just the 13 starts to date, Fell Swoop still has improvement to come going forward and with some bigger targets on the horizon you would expect him to be winning this on the way to Group 1 company.
Whilst the four-year-old gelding might be looking for further than the 1200m on offer today, he has had a four week freshen up and having measured up to the likes of Flamberge and Chautauqua finds a much easier race today.
Knoydart looks the obvious danger despite not having managed a win in some 808 days now.
Resuming with a poor effort in the TJ Smith Stakes, the John O’Shea-trained runner went on to run an equal career peak figure of 116 with the blinkers back on when runner up to Music Magnate in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes at Randwick.
Settling off the speed, Knoydart hit the line strongly and was only narrowly edged out by Music Magnate who continues to improve.
Knoydart’s inconsistency is certainly a concern leading into this but if he can run up to his last start effort he would have to be some chance of knocking off the well fancied Fell Swoop.
Local hoop Robbie Fradd takes the ride for the first time and from barrier 3 would expect him to land in a similar sort of spot to Fell Swoop behind the leaders.
Knoydart did head north for the Brisbane winter carnival last year with some success, running fourth in this race before finishing second in the Group 1 BTC Cup at this C/D.
The six-year-old gelding was very consistent in all four runs during that campaign and should Fell Swoop struggle to run up to his form Knoydart could make a long awaited return to the winners circle.
Didntcostalot found a new lease on life when joining the Tony Gollan stable and returns from a spell today.
The speedy runner has a solid enough fresh record and from the inside draw will push forward and bowl along in the lead.
Tegan Harrison who has won 4/6 remains on board and he will certainly give them all something to catch on the turn.
Running to 109 when winning the Group 3 George Moore Stakes (1200m) in the spring, Didntcostalot has been given a decent break leading into the winter carnival.
Gollan will certainly have him ready to go and the likes of Fell Swoop and Knoydart will not want to let him get too far in front.
Artlee returned in the Hall Mark Stakes but had no luck when running ninth, beaten 2.8L by Music Magnate.
Certainly should have finished a lot closer than he did and will take good improvement from that effort.
Local jockey Michael Cahill takes the ride and would expect the Todd Willan-trained runner to have to run to a new peak to be winning this.
Getting up to near a year since his last win but has won six of 12 and on his day is a very capable galloper who could give these a good test.
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Good luck!
