His sprint star Fell Swoop produced the best run of his career to finish second to Chautauqua in last year's $2.5 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200 metres).

Dale is hoping the addition of Brazilian jockey Joao Moreira - widely regarded as the best hoop in the world - will be the difference in winning his first group 1 Saturday week.

Fell Swoop finished sixth in The Galaxy (1100m) on one of the heaviest tracks Dale has ever seen.

But he returns to his "pet distance" for the TJ Smith and has the added bonus of the jockey known as the "Magic Man" on board.

Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman has ridden Fell Swoop in four of his last five starts, but has committed to Spieth for the TJ.

Moreira's Australia-based manager has spoken to Dale about the possibility of riding the five-year-old in the past, but Dale's had other jockeys already booked.

Giving an insight into Moreira's calibre - he'll have about five rides for Godolphin, the international stable owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Dale said it was a big coup for a small stable based in Canberra.

"Fell Swoop's about his best when he's nice and balanced and rhythmic and that's how Joao rides. I think that he'll suit him and clearly he's regarded as one of the best jockey's in the world, there's no doubt about that," he said.

"I think it's a big coup to be able to secure him for such an important, big race."???

Dale was hoping it could help his gelding go one better than the second in last year's TJ Smith, where he finished 1??? lengths behind Chautauqua.

The Canberra trainer said his stable star had a similar campaign this preparation to a year ago and was hoping a return to 1200m would also help.

Last autumn Fell Swoop finished second in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) and then fourth in The Galaxy going into the TJ.

"That was probably his career peak performance when he ran second last year [in the TJ] and he's had a similar lead-up this preparation," Dale said.

"Looking forward to it. One placing better would be outstanding, but it's a $2.5 million [race], the biggest sprint in Australia, it's a massive ask for any horse, but he presents there third-up at his pet distance.

"He'll be rock-solid fit on the day and with a little bit of luck he'll be right in the finish."

Fell Swoop should have some petrol left in the tank despite the Rosehill mud on the weekend.

Bowman didn't produce the whip as the son of Not A Single Doubt struggled to handle the conditions.

Dale said it was one of the heaviest tracks he'd ever seen, but had run Fell Swoop in it to see whether he'd be able to handle the going.

"Thankfully Hughy Bowman didn't overly knock the horse about, he didn't get touched with the whip once and inturn has pulled up really well," he said.

"Until you go on one of those tracks you don't know. He could've loved it, he could've ploughed through the mud because we'd never started him on a heavy track.

"Until you go you don't know. Hughy said he didn't handle it and that's why he kept him together hands and heels."