A fortnight after Plucky Belle carried the Esplin family colours to an upset Group One win over First Seal, her owners are hoping Slightly Sweet can do the same.
Plucky Belle ($16) beat odds-on favourite First Seal to win the Coolmore Classic and Slightly Sweet is a $21 chance to upset that filly in Saturday’s Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill.
Slightly Sweet
Kathy O’Hara, who rides the Jason Coyle-trained Slightly Sweet, also put the tartan and red on display with 100-1 winner Cordon Rouge at Hawkesbury on Thursday.
O’Hara will become a familiar sight in the colours as she has scored the ride on the Peter Moody-trained Plucky Belle in the Doncaster Mile replacing Linda Meech who had first call but decided she would not be able to do the mare justice if she wasted to get to 50kg.
The Esplins have been in the racing and breeding business for many years through Twin Palms Stud which operated under the guidance of family patriarch Phillip who died in late 2011.
“Everyone wants to win big races and to get a ticket in the ballot for the Vinery with Slightly Sweet is something everyone dreams about, especially when you have bred the horse yourself,” Hamish Esplin said.
“And next weekend we have a runner in the biggest race of all in Sydney, the Doncaster.
“We bred both Plucky Belle and Slightly Sweet who has always looked like she would get the 2000 metres of the Vinery even though she is by Charge Forward.
“All three starts this preparation have been really good and when they are three-year-olds they often get over distances.
“She is also entered for the Oaks and we can’t rule that out.”
Slightly Sweet went to the races for the first time in September last year, winning on debut at Kembla Grange before finishing out of the money at Rosehill. She then ended her preparation with victory over Wine Tales at Randwick.
Her autumn campaign has been one of further improvement with Slightly Sweet third in the Group Two Light Fingers (1200m) behind Adrift and First Seal and third again in the Surround Stakes behind First Seal and Supara before her win over Wine Tales in the Keith Nolan.
Winx ($7) is the most favoured of three Vinery runners for premier trainer Chris Waller with Thousand Guineas winner Amicus at $17 and Ballet Suite $26.
The Waller-trained Wine Tales will take the traditional path to the Oaks via next week’s Adrian Knox Stakes.
