BRYAN SMART, the latest small time trainer to burst into the Classic spotlight is culling over his options before deciding on a definite battle plan for his Prix de Diane Hermes winner Sit Sila.
But the former jump jockey, who trained his first turf winner of the 1996 campaign when the daughter of Marju beat Miss Tahiti by a length in the French equivalent to the Oaks on Sunday must first convince owner Luis Alvarez Cervera to keep her after his fax machine was jammed with offers for the filly this morning.
Confirming Sit Sila's well being, Smart, who arrived back of Lambourn from France this afternoon, said. "She's in the paddock at the moment and she is as happy as they come. She's a real pro. She has eaten everything and drunk very well you wouldn't know she has been in a race.
"Obviously we have had a lot of faxes with offers for her, from blood stock companies acting as agents for clients," he said.
"I've had her since she was a two year old and have ridden her in all her work. It would be a wrench but then business is business. Still, they can't take away what I have done with her."
After Sit Sila's victory under Cash Asmussen in Sunday's Chantilly race, Smart intimated that he would rest the filly before an assault on the Prix Vermeille at Longchamp on September 15th.
However, he will now talk matters over with Senor Alvarez Cervera before a definite decision is made.
"I have spoken to the owner and we will meet to discuss plans next week," added Smart.
"We could look at the fillies' races over a mile and a quarter, and the Champion at the end of the season is a possibility. For the moment, she'll have a couple of weeks hacking about.
"Cash thinks she is a good mile and a quarter filly, but Ray Cochrane thinks she'll stay a mile and a half and so do I.
"Someone translated from ones of the French papers that it wash the third fastest time ever. When you have won a race like the Diane you can go where you want. We will all bang our heads together next week and see what comes of it."
Now that he has made his arrival on the Group One stage, Smart finds the scenery to his liking and is keen to stay.
"It's fabulous to win a race this," he added. "I'm a small trainer with a good filly and it can only help people saying that I know my job."
