Racing: Top filly awaits invitation

Trainer Mike Moroney is horrified to learn his group one-winning filly Clean Sweep could miss a start in the $200,000 Railway at Ellerslie on January 1.

Clean Sweep is currently on the minimum weight, 21st in the list of entry into the field and will almost certainly miss a start unless the Auckland Racing Club uses its discretionary powers to override the normal entry into the field in weight order.

At her last start Clean Sweep beat the colts and geldings in the group one 2000 Guineas at Riccarton early last month.

During the spring she beat the older horses at group three weight-for-age level at Rotorua and Moroney shakes his head that such form cannot guarantee the filly a run.

ARC racing manager Butch Castles said no decision had been made about using discretionary power to invite Clean Sweep into New Zealand's premier sprint.

"Obviously I'd love to have her in the field - far out, she's a group one winner at her last start.

"But at this stage we can't say she won't be invited in, but equally we can't say she will be."

With Lisa Cropp in the saddle at yesterday's Breakfast With The Stars, Clean Sweep looked stylish getting the better of Sarah Vee at the end of 800m in 46.7.

She looks to have thickened nicely in condition.

There is a touch of irony that Clean Sweep was the most dramatic shortener in the odds by TAB bookie Paul Lally after yesterday's session.

Lally made a special trip to Auckland for the promotion and was very taken with Clean Sweep's effort.

He tightened the filly from $14 to $10.

"I'll be staggered if the club doesn't invite her to run," said Lally.

Her stablemate Straight Eight was dropped from $50 to $28 for the Auckland Cup for her workout.

Lally said he had not touched the market for the Derby despite Cheval De Troy's dashing gallop.

"I've left him at $2. There has been a stack of money for him at the $2 and if there is significant more money I'll have to bring him in, but it's difficult to justify odds-on in a derby."

The ARC should know today whether Melbourne trainer Tony Vasil is sending Not A Single Doubt for the Waiwera Infinity Railway and stayer Bondy for the New Zealand Herald Auckland Cup.

Not A Single Doubt's owner John Messara told Castles yesterday that a decision was close to being made for a Boxing Day flight.