Racing: Ger Lyons believes last year's Queen Mary winner Elletelle could develop into a top-class sprinter next season after her encouraging run when a staying-on third over six furlongs at Fairyhouse yesterday.
The speedy filly went down by just under two lengths to Dimenticata in the Belgrave Stakes having been slowly away from the gate — a trademark problem which Lyons is working hard to correct.
Lyons said: "She is going the right way and has progressed from each of her runs this season. The ground was far too soft for her first time out but I was delighted with her next run when she finished upsides Myboycharlie.
"She came on from there and she was beaten by a Guineas filly yesterday in Dimenticata. The one thing she can't keep doing, though, is giving away two or three lengths at the start. She goes into the stalls fine but comes up when the gates open.
"You can't do that in sprint races and it is something I am working on ironing out. She owes us nothing having won a Group Two and been Group One-placed, but I think she will make a real classy sprinter next year.
"She has put on 30 kilos since the start of the season and is rounding off nicely."
Lyons, whose name was one to be feared on his British raids last season, added that the three-year-old will miss the Cisco Hong Kong Sprint Stakes at Ascot this weekend in favour of a trip to the Curragh.