Spring carnival riches await promising filly Sweet Ella who surprised trainer Greg Eurell with the ease of her win at Sandown on Wednesday.
The two-year-old daughter of Niello was coming off an easy Cranbourne two-year-old maiden win over 1000m at her race debut on April 27 and went right on with the job in the Clamms Seafood Hcp (1300m).
Ridden by Chris Symons, Sweet Ella ($2.80 fav) overpowered her rivals on the heavy (9) going to score by 3-1/4 lengths from race leader Thawaabet ($20) with Tatum ($3.20) 2-1/2 lengths away third.
“I’m pretty happy with that, she’s surprised me a little bit, ” Eurell said.
“She’s a little bit of a sleeper at home, she only does what she has to in trackwork but has a very competitive nature on race day.
“Both times she’s stepped out she’s won very impressively.
“It’s a good sign and very pleasing that she gets through the wet too so it makes her a little bit more versatile.”
Sweet Ella is raced by her breeder Sandy Letten who lives in Queensland but has a property at Digger’s Rest north of Melbourne and has raced several horses with the Eurell stable.
Out of the winning Almaarad mare Sweet Mariah, Sweet Ella is a half-sister to Listed Tasmanian Newmarket Handicap winner Phantomofthenight.
“I said to her (Sandy) that if she runs really well I think we’d better put her away and look for something better in the spring and that is what will be happening,” Eurell said.
“I’d say the way she goes it looks like she’d run a mile (1600m).
“She’s got a little bit of scope, she’s a nice sized filly and she’ll have a break now.
“There might be a couple of nice races for her over the spring.”
The Sandown meeting brought a welcome return to the metropolitan winner’s circle for Ibrihim Gundogdu.
Gossip Girl gave the apprentice his first city winner since he made a comeback to riding six months ago when she claimed the Ahern’s At Highways After The Last Hcp (1200m).
Indentured to Cranbourne trainer Mick Kent, the Turkish-born Gundogdu had to stand out of racing for a year as his work visa had expired and he had to wait until he gained permanent residency before he could resume riding.
His previous metropolitan winner was the Kent-trained mare Clandon at Moonee Valley in July 2009.
AAP TURF
