Lollipop’s ‘sweet spot’ is still to be revealed

By Josh Spasaro

Sweet Lollipop has notched up 16 wins from 67 starts for Rob Weeding, but he thinks her best is yet to come.

She is still only three years old and is shooting for four wins on the trot in the Beckett Family Free For All over 407 metres at Rockhampton on Wednesday night.

By Group 1 winner Feral Franky and out of Sweet Suzie who won five from 39 starts, Sweet Lollipop is still developing mentally according to Weeding.

“In my opinion, the Feral Frankys don’t come into their own until they’re well over two,” the Central Queensland trainer said.

“That’s just my opinion, and that’s what we’re seeing. She’s three years old, and at her peak she’s flying.

“For her age I think she’s going fantastic.”

Physically, Weeding is thrilled with his chaser who does not lack power through her hind legs.

“She’s a nice-sized dog. She’s got real big back legs on her. She weighs about 28-29kg,” he said.

“She can handle a bit of a bump. Her best attribute is she is a very smart dog.

“I’ve seen her miss the start before and work her way through the field and she’s got great field sense.

“She uses her weight to push her way through. I’m very happy with how she’s going.”

If Sweet Lollipop can again fly out of the lids, Weeding believes she can make it four wins in a row on Wednesday night.

And she has the benefit of starting from box one.

“Her last few runs have been sensational in my eyes. Her last run, that first sectional was absolutely lightning,” Weeding said.

“She went 8.80 in the first section, and not many dogs can go that quick.

“She’s coming back from when she had three months off with a toe injury.

“And to be performing like this after that injury has been outstanding. I think she’s very capable of winning the race.

“I think it’s all going to be in the start. If she can get around the first corner cleanly, then it should be on from there.”

Weeding said he had not put any extra emphasis on Sweet Lollipop’s starts in recent weeks.

Rather, he added her mental maturity has led to her knowing how to better jump out from the lids.

“Recently she’s really been getting her starts right. She’s been jumping with them,” he said.

“And her acceleration once she gets around the first corner, her mid-race pace is awesome.

“She can really go.

“The past few starts she’s been getting it right and she’s been finding her way to the front pretty early and been hard to catch.

“I’ve been doing nothing else with her. Nothing different. She’s just been putting it together.”

Sweet Lollipop has also shown a strong finishing ability in her past three wins from as many starts.

They have all been over 407 metres, and Weeding said that was her ideal distance for now.

“I did try and step her up a while ago, but she couldn’t run out the 500 metres. I don’t think that’s her distance,” he said.

“I think it’s just out of her capability. So, I’ll just keep her at that distance.

“When you’re winning Free For All races each week there’s not really much point in stepping her up to a distance that’s harder.

“She’s been really good the past few starts. I’ve been very impressed.”

Wednesday night’s Free For All worth $3,250 might only be a five-dog field, but Weeding said it was not lacking in pace.

Two-year-old bitch Untamed Velocity for Steven Scott also carries form into the sprint race, with four consecutive wins to her name.

But Weeding believes starting from the one box should give his chaser a slight advantage.

“There is some speed in the race. But if she can repeat what she did last week and hold that rail, I think she’ll be difficult to beat,” Weeding said.

“She’s just got to begin well.

“Any one of those dogs in that race could win. I think it’s just going to be a matter of who can get around that first corner cleanly and get away.

“If they’re out leading, any one of those dogs will be hard to run down, because they can all run time.

“If you can get out front, I think you’ll have the race won. So that’s the plan.”

And if Sweet Lollipop can keep up her run of wins, Weeding said he wasn’t ruling out the possibility of sending her down to compete in higher-grade company at The Q.

“I would have no doubt if I took Lollipop down to Brisbane, she would be very competitive there,” he said.

“That might be on the cards in the future with her. But at the moment she’s going very well here.

“Why change something that’s working?”

On a quality 10-race card at Rockhampton, the Race 8 QGold Final over 407 metres will also be a highlight of the night.

Michael and Amber Boody will have four in-form chasers to line up in the race at 9.29pm.

They are Hudson Riverline, Next Black Jack, Bright Side and Riding Solo.

Two-year-old bitch Pelorus, for Juanita Thompson, will start from box six.

She has won once and placed twice from her past five starts.

“I think she’s still got a lot to show,” Thompson said recently.

“And she’s still only young. She’s only just over two and a half now.”