Making her fourth start for Ravenswood trainer Cameron Ross, Little Darling ($4.50) carried too many weapons as she easily accounted for her seven rivals, posting a score of 1.56.5 over 2130 meters after speeding over the final 400m sections in 27.9 seconds. and 28.2 sec.
And the win was even more impressive considering Little Darling’s rider Jocelyn Young abandoned her plans for the race and tasked the mare with racing without cover before winning by 4 meters from Heavenly Gipsy ($3.20), with Madam Publisher ($6.50) leading by three, after being heavily blocked from a run in the closing stages. The pacesetter and $3.10 favorite Sweet Vivienne disappeared to finish fourth.
A week earlier, Little Darling failed in an attempt to take the early lead after gaining an early lead of 34.7 seconds. and then worked hard in the wind outside the leader Heavenly Gipsy in the Norms Daughter Classic. It quickly developed into an up-tempo race and Litte Darling wilted to finish in eighth place, with Penny Black winning from Aardiebytheseaside.
LITTLE LOVE REPEAT
Ross and Young planned to give Little Darling a more comfortable journey on Friday evening, but Young made a quick decision to change her tactics when the early pace was extremely slow.
Little Darling was settled in seventh place in the one-wide line before Young switched the mare three wide after about 370 meters and took up the wind position. The turnaround time was no less than 38.1 seconds.
“I didn’t want to do all the work in the wind, but the pace was quite slow, and I thought it would be harder for us if I stayed back in the field and faced the prospect of being forced wide,” Young explained.
Ross said he was excited to take over Little Darling’s training about two months ago when the mare’s owner and trainer, Barry Howlett, asked him if he would agree to take on the job.
“I jumped at the chance to train her,” Ross said. “I don’t think Barry liked driving from Busselton to Gloucester Park and back home every Friday evening. I now look forward to seeing how Little Darling will tackle Penny Black, Aardiebytheseaside, Heavenly Gipsy and company next week.”
For full race results, click here.
Through Ken Casellasfor Gloucester Park
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