Slightly Sweet Ends Autumn With Second G3
- Saturday, 18 April 2015 08:37
Talented filly Slightly Sweet has put the seal on a successful autumn campaign with victory in the James HB Carr Stakes at Randwick.
Her win on Saturday was the second Group Three success of her preparation which also yielded minor prize money in the Group Two Light Fingers and Surround Stakes.
After her win in the Keith Nolan Classic (1600m), trainer Jason Coyle and her owners tried her over 2000m in the Group One Vinery Stud Stakes in which she finished midfield, less than three lengths from the winner Fenway.
"We pushed her right out to 2000 metres and she did a really good job there," Coyle said.
"Her niche though has always been that seven to eight furlongs (1600m).
"She had a really good turn of foot there and just sprinted through the gap."
Ridden by Kathy O'Hara, Slightly Sweet ($12) came from well back in the field and hit the line strongly to beat Anyaas ($19) by three-quarters of a length with another half length to Sebrina ($19).
Slightly Sweet is owned by her breeders, the Esplin family, and failed to attract a bid in the sale ring so they decided to race her.
"She has done a great job," Hamish Esplin said.
"I think she will go for a spell now and be aimed at the good mares' races in the spring in Melbourne.
"Jason and Kathy have done a great job with her."
Although Slightly Sweet has yet to win a Group One race, the Esplins enjoyed a win at the highest level during the autumn with the Peter Moody-trained Plucky Belle taking out the Coolmore Classic.
