Three-year-old Snitzel filly Sylvia's Mother earned her fourth consecutive win with another dominant performance over 1100 metres at Randwick on Australia Day, which was just as well for Brenton Avdulla as co-trainer Michael Hawkes was not about to hand out any platitudes.
"She got into a position she shouldn't have been in, but she's got some talented and out-sprinted them," Hawkes said.
"She was a little tardy away and he should have left her alone and let her be where she needed to be but he tried to put her in a spot and when they backed off the speed she got into all sorts of trouble and in the straight, I didn't want to look."
A homebred for Rob and Pam Crosby, Sylvia's mother powered home in the closing stages to defeat another daughter of Snitzel, Wonderbabe, by one and a quarter lengths with the Excelebration (IRE) colt Exceltic a further one and a half lengths back in third. (photos Steve Hart) .
Michael Hawkes wouldn't commit to a start in the Group II Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) for fillies at Randwick on February 16.
"She's got some talent, she out-sprinted them and to her credit, she's done a very good job," Hawkes said.
"Rob and Pam Crosby are great clients they don't interfere and let us do what we need to do.
"She's always shown ability, we are just going through the grades without being penalised too much by the handicapper."
Avdulla said he was happy to pick up the ride after Tommy Berry elected to ride at Ellerslie and felt the filly has huge upside.
"One thing Hawksey always tells me is don't panic and make sure she is balanced up over the rise.
"When she over-raced early I thought I'll get her to settle up the straight but to her credit when she crossed heels I kept her balanced and I did not really have to fully go for her, she picked them up in a stride."
Sylvia's Mother is the first runner for the 3-time winning Bel Esprit mare Found The One who is a sister to the Group 1 SAJC Robert Sangster Stakes winner Bel Mer and the Listed winner Ken Arok.
A daughter of the Listed winner Drop Anchor (At Talaq) Found The One has an All Too Hard colt catalogued in the Aquis draft at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale Lot 328.
