Slick Splits Set For Surprise Phoenix Return

Multiple Group 1 winner, Slick Splits, has made an immediate recovery from injury and has been selected to run in the $1.65 million The Phoenix.

The $1.6 million glamour race, will be run over 525m at The Meadows on December 13.

Tom Dailly confirmed today his dog was 100 per cent and a trial at The Meadows on Monday had confirmed his place with the slot holder and into The Phoenix.

Slick Splits (Feral Franky-Foxy Bourbski) was brilliant in winning a Melbourne Cup Prelude at Sandown on November 14 in 29.10.

But, he pulled up with a strained elbow which halted his bid to the Melbourne Cup.

It was immediately thought his chances of running in The Phoenix were gone.

“We gave him 10 days off and it seemed to heal very quickly,” Dailly said.

“It was decided to give him a gallop and he went great, so he had another one and by this time he was fabulous.”

Slick Splits went to The Meadows on Monday for a post to post and he reeled off a sensational 24.60 on a wet track.

“It’s a good bit of news for a change,” the trainer added.

“Full steam ahead now to The Phoenix.”

Team Dailly finished second with the kennel’s grand campaigned Smooth Plane in last year’s The Phoenix beaten two lengths by Explicit after coming from well back early and having no luck throughout the race.

“Smooth Plan has been tossed into the pool for The Phoenix, but he will retire if he does not get a start in the race,” Dailly added.

Slick Splits has already won the G1 Topgun and the G1 Maturity in 13 wins from 23 starts for stakes of $283,000.