Sweet Thing leads home Oliver 1-2 in Navan maiden

Andy Oliver sent out the first two home, as Sweet Thing stayed on strongly to hold the late run of stablemate Keepcalmandsailon in the Simonstown Maiden at Navan.

Second on her racecourse debut at Down Royal last month, the three-year-old filly was sent off 7/2 to go one place better under Billy Lee.

Prominent from the outset, Sweet Thing tracked clear Platino Bianco to the furlong pole, before taking over in front.

Pushed out to go a couple of lengths clear, she kept on well to beat the staying on Keepcalmandsailon by one-and-a-quarter lengths.

Andy Oliver said: "She had a wee setback earlier on and just coming out now, but we always liked her. Travels very well, behaves very well.

"Very nice run at Down Royal - the rain came and it literally went to quite testing ground, so she handled that but obviously inexperience beat her first-time out.

"Today it was very simple. Billy looked to have loads in hand, looked to have the race in control. The only danger was our other horse coming!

"We liked him (runner-up Keepcalmandsailon), I think ground was a big issue there (Down Royal), he just was literally caught out by the testing ground. He has improved vastly for that.

"We did expect him to be able to show this sort of ability."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham.