Sweet Lilly

Sweet Lilly ran a fine race on her seasonal debut to finish third in a 10-furlong Listed race at York last Friday evening. There wasn’t a great early pace on, which didn’t suit Mick Channon’s filly at all as she is inclined to pull in her races, which she duly did on Friday. Despite that, she improved from two furlongs out to move in behind the duelling leaders, Oaks third High Heeled and the progressive Ave, and appear a threat on the approach to the final furlong. While she ultimately couldn’t quite find the reserves to trouble the front two, which was perfectly forgivable given her early exertions, her effort in finishing third was more than commendable.

Sweet Lilly actually won this race last year, but it wasn’t her seasonal debut then. She had actually been really busy before this stage last season, running twice in Dubai and then four times in the UK, failing to win all six times, before getting it right at York. She hasn’t won since, but she proved here that she still retains a lot of ability. She should improve for this run, and she could improve again if dropped back down to a mile, a distance at which the faster pace should help her settle. She has raced 30 times now, but on this evidence, there is a similar contest in her.

24th July 2009