Sweet Ava (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), a full-sister to this season's G2 Run To The Rose S. winner and G1 Golden Rose S. third Menari (Aus), won a hot 2-year-old fillies' plate race at Canterbury on debut on Friday. Racing, like her elder brother, in the colours of George Altomonte's Corumbene Stud and for trainer Gerald Ryan, Sweet Ava settled third early, just off Godolphin's Membrillo (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro), the joint $2.80 favourite with her. Sweet Ava left Membrillo behind approaching the 600 to draw within a head of the front-running Diamondsandjewels (Aus) (Sepoy {Aus}), and overtook that stubborn rival under a vigorous handride inside the final 100 metres to win by a neck. China Horse Club's A$500,000 yearling purchase Eawase (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) stayed on late to be third, while Membrillo checked in fourth (video).
Ryan suggested Sweet Ava will be one for the later 2-year-old features, telling Breednet.com.au, “She'll go to the paddock Monday morning and have a couple of weeks out. We will see how she comes back later in the autumn. I don't think she's a Golden Slipper type–more a Sires' Produce or Champagne type filly. She's still learning. It's the first time away from Rosehill and she's still got a few little quirks to iron out but she's going the right way.”
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