Slightly Sweet To Take Benefit From Light Fingers Stakes Run

Slightly Sweet is set to return to the races in the 2015 Light Fingers Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday and trainer Jason Coyle expects the promising filly to take plenty of benefit from her first-up run.

Slightly Sweet will face the toughest test of her racing career to date in the 2015 Light Fingers Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart

Slightly Sweet will face the toughest test of her racing career to date in the 2015 Light Fingers Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart

Slightly Sweet made her racing debut with a win at Kembla Grange on September 13 last year and she had no luck in the Listed Reginald Allen Quality (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 27 before she recorded a maiden metropolitan victory in the Cellarbrations Handicap (1400m) at Royal Randwick on October 11.

The Charge Forward filly finished ahead of the likes of Kermadec, Brazen Beau and Preferment in a barrier trial over 808 metres at Warwick Farm on January 27 and Coyle told Sky Racing HQ that the three-year-old is ready for her return to the races in the 2015 Light Fingers Stakes, but may not find her best form until she is stepped up in distance.

“I am really excited to see her back,” Coyle said.

“She obviously showed her fair share of ability in her first preparation and she trialed really well in her one appearance.

“She trialed against a few of the really handy horses there and it gave me a good guide that I was on the right path with her.

“I haven’t done a lot with her since, but I was really happy with the trial.

“Obviously I think that she will be better over further, but it is good to see her back at the track.

“I think that she will benefit from the run, as most of the other fillies will, and I also think she will benefit by getting over a little further.

“It will be the first time that she has run into multiple Group 1 winners, so it will be a nice education for us as well.”

Slightly Sweet has never previously contested a race greater than 1400 metres, but Coyle believes that the filly is capable of getting out over a staying trip during the 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

Coyle is taking it one step at a time with Slightly Sweet, but he has included her in the nominations for the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) and he feels the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 28 could be the right race for the lightly-raced galloper.

“The plans are to hopefully get her up to the 2000 metres,” Coyle said.

“That obviously opens up a few races for her over the Carnival, but we are going to learn a lot from her first-up against quality opposition and once she gets up over 7 or 8 furlongs.

“I would love to see her hitting the line nice and strong and I am not going to say she can’t run in the first three.”

Slightly Sweet is currently available at 2015 Light Fingers Stakes odds of $31, while First Seal ($3) remains favourite from Mossfun ($4) and Winx ($6) with Ladbrokes.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.