Drawn to complete Crown clean sweep

A PERFECT draw has Sweet Louise in a strong position to complete a clean sweep in her division of the Australasian Breeders’ Crown.

Successful in her heat in Bendigo on November 6, Sweet Louise captured her semi at Tabcorp Park Melton last night.

Thrilled with the two-year-old’s progress, trainer Phillip Chircop is confident Sweet Louise can secure next weekend’s Group One Final after drawing to lead throughout from the pole.

The daughter of Sweet Lou found the front from barrier five before being eased to take a trail in her heat.

Sweet Louise then led from gate two in her semi on her way to a 13-and-a-half metre win in 1:56 over 2240 metres.

“I couldn’t be happier with her,” Chircop said. “She’s going really well and is improving a hell of a lot all the time.

“I always thought she was handy, but in the last five to six weeks with racing she has really come on in leaps and bounds.

“She is still very green and still doesn’t quite know what she’s doing, but the motor is there.

“She weighs over 500 kilos and runs around like she’s drunk…I’ve tried to straighten her up but have just accepted the fact she is what she is, and since I’ve been doing that she’s been a lot happier,

“The draw certainly lifts her chances in the Final and now it will come down to what kind of pressure she gets and sectionals they run.”

Although a driver is yet to be confirmed for Sweet Louise, Chircop believes Chris Alford, who partnered the filly in her semi, “will stick with her”.

Alford also drove The Pantheist to finish second in the opening semi.

“I haven’t spoken to him, but I think Puppet with stick with her,” Chircop said. “I’ll talk to him in the next day or so.”