Racing: Much riding on delicate filly

Lance O'Sullivan is landing some real accolades in his fledgling training career.

He will take that to a new level if he can get unbeaten filly Crepe De Chine over the line in the $120,000 Ford Manawatu Sires Produce.

It looks easy having the only unbeaten horse in a group one race - in fact, this could be the most difficult assignment Crepe De Chine faces in her career.

The talented filly has given O'Sullivan so many headaches with physical problems that her only start since her winning debut in November was a dashing 1100m victory at Te Aroha on March 12.

That is a scant preparation to be facing the likes of Wahid, Kindacross and Pulcinella, all of whom have had tough, hard racing against the best juveniles around. Each of the trio has form around the flying Mi Jubilee.

If Crepe De Chine wins it will be O'Sullivan's finest moment in his new profession.

Not only have physical problems beset Crepe De Chine, the filly has taken time to recover from each of her two races. That has meant the 2YO Classic at New Plymouth two weeks ago, which would have toughened the filly up for this assignment, could not be risked.

"She didn't come out of Te Aroha that well," said O'Sullivan.

"We considered New Plymouth, but it meant a trip away then home and another trip away to Manawatu. This is a group one race and if she had not done well after New Plymouth we'd have been in trouble. We elected to play it safe.

"Had the race been on our back door we might have been keener to run."

There is no questioning Crepe De Chine's talent to cope at this level - she beat Dr Green at Ellerslie on debut and even though the colt helped beat himself, Crepe De Chine had to be smart.

"We're very happy with her - I think she can run a real race."

O'Sullivan is delighted the Awapuni track has dried.

"I wouldn't have liked to see her try to run 1400m in the conditions of last Saturday."