Sleeping Beauty makes it four straight at Matamata

Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty scored its fourth consecutive win this winter when taking out the Russell & Yvonne Memorial at Matamata. Photo: NZ Racing

PROMISING five-year-old Sleeping Beauty scored its fourth consecutive win in the Russell & Yvonne Green Memorial at Matamata on Saturday.

Trained in partnership by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, the Rip Van Winkle mare capped off some stylish winter form with another stellar victory on a slow 9 track.

Having scored its last two wins by 4.5 and six lengths, Sleeping Beauty was a well-favoured betting proposition at $3.20 with Neds.com.au and after finding a soft lead, the result was never going to be in doubt.

“Sam (Weatherley) rated her well,” O’Sullivan said. “I suppose he got away with a couple of cheap sectionals, but she’s certainly gone to the next level.”

O’Sullivan was expected another top effort after scoring its last two wins on a rain-affected track and stakes company could be on the cards in the near future.

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“Her record is pretty good. I think only once she hasn’t been in the first two,” O’Sullivan said.

“She’s a pretty handy mare and the more she starts the better she’s become.

“I think she’s got a wee way to go, but we hope (to tackle black type).

“We’ll go through to see if there’s a suitable race coming up. I think she’ll get there at some stage.”

The ride couldn’t have come any easier for apprentice Sam Weatherely, who got an easy lead up front and its opposition applied no pressure during the race.

“She’s flying this horse, what can I say? She keeps stepping up,” said Weatherely, who was able to settle lengths in front of race favourite Deels In Heels. “She’s come back to me nicely today and I got some nice sectionals and she finished off well.

“She keeps winning and that’s all she can do.”

$2.30 favourite Deels In Heels was dropping back in distance having run at Hastings last start, but the missed run on Livamol Classic day might have told on Saturday.

The Baker/Forsman-trained four-year-old got out of its ground early in the race, but worked into the race late and it looks a nice type going forward when the tracks dry out this spring.

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