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Sweet Little Lies compared with champion stablemate Crystal Lily

8th Jan 2012

Herald Sun - Tim Habel - Sunday, 8 January 2011

The comparisons between 2010 Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily and impressive debut Caulfield winner Sweet Little Lies are inevitable.

While co-trainer Mat Ellerton was reluctant to compare the two, jockey Chris Symons said Sweet Little Lies was one of the best juveniles he had ridden.

Symons said the filly gave him a similar feel to Crystal Lily and another Group 1 winner, Toorak Toff.

"She's got some brilliance, she really gave me an awesome feel," he said.

Sweet Little Lies reeled off 200m sectionals of 11.02, 11.23 and 11.40 between the 1000m and 400m.

She toyed with her rivals winning the 1100m Thomas North Plate by 4 3/4 lengths from fellow debutant Ockham's Razor, who will now go to New Zealand for the Karaka Millions on January 29.

The daughter of Elusive Quality, sire of last year's Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper winner Sepoy, Sweet Little Lies is not nominated for the Blue Diamond so owner-breeder Brian Agnew must consider paying the $55,000 late-entry fee by February 20, five days before the $1 million race.

Sweet Little Lies is the first Agnew-owned horse in the Ellerton-Simon Zahra yard. Agnew bred Melbourne Cup winner Subzero, South Australian Derby winner Bullwinkle and country cups specialist Red Buttons.

Ellerton said Sweet Little Lies would progress to a Blue Diamond Preview on Australia Day.

"She wasn't clean away, but when she hits the ground, she's off and away," he said. "She's not even switched on yet. Over the last furlong (200m), she was twitching her ears."

Sweet Little Lies started favourite on the strength of an impressive Flemington jump-out win, but yesterday was her first real test.

"That's the quickest she's been asked to go," Ellerton said. "None of our other two-year-olds can go with her. I'm not sure how much faster she can go."

Stablemate Crystal Lily collapsed and died in a trial at Flemington in September.

Jockey Glen Boss was injured in the incident and has not ridden since.

*Photo: Sweet Little Lies (P$45,000 2011 Classic, 2f Elusive Quality-Borobodur)