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Two weeks after winning his first stakes race at his Melbourne debut, Not A Single Doubt's son Fell Swoop did it again, only this time he had to overcome a pre-race hold-up and a difficult run.
The 4YO gelding had to be re-plated before the $120,000 MRC Testa Rossa S. 1200m LR and the procedure unsettled him enough that he pulled his way forward to share the lead three wide heading into the turn.
Fell Swoop seemed to be under serious pressure at the 200-metre mark when Charlie Boy headed him, but he fought back grittily to win by a quarter-length from the game Charlie Boy, who was giving Fell Swoop 5.5 kg, with Java third.
Watch Fell Swoop's MRC Testa Rossa S. LR win.
Trainer Matthew Dale said, "Once he didn’t get cover and switch off, he was there to be beaten today. That was a massive run... to come back off the canvas like that and win, it was a sign of a really good one. It just shows a real will to win that you don’t find in too many horses.”
Fell Swoop was bred by Lee Curtis and partners Mark Richards, Graham Singh & Paul Armstrong (who remain in his ownership), and sold to his trainer for $45,000 at the 2013 Inglis Classic Sale. The gelding's dam is Touched In Flight (by Fasliyev), a descendant of Simper, the wonderful foundation broodmare for New Zealand's Chelandry Stud.
Not A Single Doubt struck again at Caulfield when his daughter Don't Doubt Mamma took out the $80,000 MRC Foundation Plate over 1400 metres for trainer Tony McEvoy. It was the 3YO filly's second win from six starts and followed an eye-catching fourth in Stay With Me's MVRC Atlantic Jewel S. LR two weeks ago.
Don't Doubt Mamma settled midfield for jockey Luke Currie who got her into the clear at the 300-metre mark, balanced her up and then just had to hang on as she sprinted past Sacred Eye and Thames Court to win by a half-length.
Watch Don't Tell Mamma's win at Caulfield.
McEvoy, who also trains the filly's stakes-winning older brother Risen From Doubt, said, "She’s a highly talented filly, that was impressive.
"Once she was balanced she went from being some chance to the dominant winner and not many horses have that quality."
Don't Doubt Mamma (ex Coconut Mamma, by Fantastic Light from the celebrated Denise's Joy family) will now head to the VRC Edward Manifold S. G2 on 4 October and, all going well, on to the MRC Thousand Guineas G1 six days later. Quoted at $201 by the TAB before the Atlantic Jewel Stakes, she is now $8 on the third line of betting behind Stay With Me ($4.20) and Pasadena Girl ($6.00) for the Guineas.
Arrowfield owns Don't Doubt Mamma's half-sister Miss St Tropez (Magnus-Coconut Mamma) who has an All American filly foal and visits Animal Kingdom this Spring.
Saturday's victories have taken Not A Single Doubt's Australian earnings in the first seven weeks of the season to $1,079,630, which places him fifth on the General Sires' table. He has averaged almost a winner a day for the past month, so it's no surprise to see him also holding second on the list by winners (30) and wins (37).
