Jockey Chris Symons has compared runaway debut winner Sweet Little Lies with the best two-year-olds he has ever ridden as she heads towards next month’s Blue Diamond Stakes.
He said the daughter of Elusive Quality was shaping up to be in the same league as Golden Slipper Stakes winner Crystal Lily and Adelaide Magic Millions winner Toorak Toff such was her dominance in Saturday’s Thomas North Plate (1100m) at Caulfield.
Sweet Little Lies winning the Thomas North Plate at Caulfield - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia
Symons had never ridden the filly before but was aware of how well she had trialled and the backing she had to start $2.80 favourite.
It proved easy money for Symons and her supporters as she led all the way and strolled home 4-3/4 lengths ahead of the Anthony Freedman-trained debutant Ockham’s Razor and Sandown debut winner Dispatch.
“I have got to tell you she gave me a really awesome feel,” Symons said.
“She felt as good as any I have felt and I have been on board some smart two-year-olds like Crystal Lily and Toorak Toff.
Symons said Sweet Little Lies, who is by same sire as last year’s Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper winner Sepoy, was never switched on to the task but was brilliant.
He said she was going so well he tried to keep her in check during the race but as it was she ran the slick time of 1:3.99 unextended.
“I was running quick sectionals and in all honesty I probably would have been better off to let her slide a second quicker just so she felt more comfortable as she was climbing a little bit,” Symons said.
“She definitely wasn’t switched on and I had a look at the screen and I noticed she was that far in front so I was quite lenient on her.”
Sweet Little Lies is trained by Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra who together prepared the ill-fated Crystal Lily.
Ellerton said Sweet Little Lies had been a tardy beginner in jumpouts and admits he doesn’t know how fast she can go.
“Once she hits the ground she’s off and gone and it is good to see her translate what she has been doing at home to today,” Ellerton said.
“Today was the quickest we’ve asked her to go.
“I haven’t got another two-year-old quick enough to work with her and she does it with ease so I don’t know how much quicker she can go.”
He said providing she pulls up well she will run in the fillies’ Blue Diamond Preview at Caulfield on January 26.
“She’s going in the right direction,” Ellerton said.
AAP TURF
