BY BEN CALUZZI Terry Kelly’s stable star Skelm will get his best opportunity to feature on the podium since his significant tendon injury back in 2022, when he contests the Listed PKF Torney Night Cup over 2500 metres this Friday at The Valley. A dominant 3-length winner of the race in 2022, Skelm unfortunately suffered a tendon injury in the Adelaide Cup at his very next start, and was forced into early retirement. However, the Coghills Creek-based trainer decided to see how his horse would handle a full rehabilitation, to which Skelm hasn’t missed a beat and has since returned to racing, some 87 weeks later. “We were of the mind to retire him because he was seven, going on eight, but he really just didn’t settle anywhere”, Angela Bridges told us, the partner of Kelly and an integral part of their operation. “He was looking for his routine and he wanted to be in the barn. “He’s a great, fun horse and he warrants a second chance.” That second chance will be put to the test this Friday night when Skelm returns to the scene of his last victory, in the same race and on the same night some two years in advance. The chestnut stayer has had four runs in the lead up to this, getting back on each occasion and running home well without ever threatening. Bridges says drawing barrier 1 in his last two outings has been an obvious negative, and this week the middle of the line alley should help him build into his race and find a more forward position in running, which was key to his success back in 2022. “We’re hoping we can change that around… Declan (Bates) is a positive rider and a good judge of pace once he gets there. “He doesn’t need to lead, but he needs to be within striking distance and he’ll finish the same as he always does.” Now a nine-year-old, Skelm may not ever return to the form that saw him start $6 in an Adelaide Cup, but for now the son of Animal Kingdom is a happy horse and is enjoying being back in work, which the Kelly stable say is the most important thing. “He’s very easy. I ride him and I’m nearly 60,” Bridges concluded. SKELM RESURGENCE SET FOR PKF TORNEY NIGHT CUP TEST
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