It looms as a changing of the guard in Australian sprinting, but Canberra trainer Matthew Dale says that won't sway his decision about whether to send his stable star Fell Swoop to the $1 million Darley Classic (1200 metres).
Fell Swoop produced a massive run in the group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night and was unlucky not to win, finishing second to Rebel Dane by a short neck after being pushed wide on the home turn.
Dale said initial signs were good that the son of Not A Single Doubt had pulled up well from the run and would be right for the Darley, but he wouldn't make a decision until later in the week.
The Darley Classic has lost two of it's big names, with Buffering retired after finishing sixth and Chautauqua potentially going for a spell after his seventh.
It opens the door for the next batch of sprint stars to stake a name for themselves down the Flemington straight on November 5.
"Straight after the run he pulled up well and come through pretty good overnight. It usually takes five odd days for me to form an opinion of how he's really pulled up," Dale said.
"Ultimately [Buffering and Chautauqua] won't change our decision. He'll have to please me, go back to Canberra and do everything right and be thriving and if he is we'll head to the Darley for sure."
Fell Swoop started well in the Manikato, settling at the front of the field outside of Buffering, who pushed the Canberra hope wide coming into the straight.
That allowed Rebel Dane to scoot away up the rail to hold on despite a fast finish from Fell Swoop.
It was the kind of gutsy run that's typified the sprinter and why Dale admires him.
"He obviously ran out of his skin and I'm very proud of him to run second again in another big group 1 sprint," he said.
"They drifted out and he was outside Buffering, who drifted out off the track and we had to roll out with him, but that's the way it goes.
"He knuckled down late and drove really hard through the line. We're very proud of him."
Fell Swoop is still looking for his first group 1 win, but has the group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m) under his belt from the autumn.
He finished third in the Schillaci Stakes (1100m) first-up this preparation before the second in the Manikato.
It's his third second from six starts in group 1s – including the $2.5 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) and the Oakleigh Plate (1100m).
But Dale had no concerns his five-year-old gelding was becoming a bridesmaid.
"No not at all, his profile says it all. He's won nine from 18 starts, he's no bridesmaid. He's got a better profile than a vast majority of horses and a vast majority of group 1 horses," he said.
Dale's Rocket Commander also finished second, with the Court Command mare getting overrun by Kaniana in the group 3 Tesio Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
