Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Six-year-old Little Darling is emerging as a leading candidate for next Friday night’s $50,000 WASBA Breeders Stakes after a brilliant victory in fast time in the $25,000 Retravision 60 Day Price Promise Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Bred and owned by the Howlett family and trained in Busselton by Barry Howlett, Little Darling, the $2.50 second favourite, was simply too good for her six rivals and won in convincing fashion from Champagne Everyone ($11) and the $1.90 favourite Madam Publisher, who set a fast pace for Stuart McDonald.
Little Darling was seen outside her comfort zone, racing without cover before dashing to the front with 100m to travel, rating a fast 1.55.4.
“Ideally, she is a sit and kick horse, but she has a bit of versatility, racing three wide early and then in the breeze,” said champion reinsman Chris Lewis. “The last three sections were pretty quick (28.6sec., 27.9sec. and 28.4sec.) in anybody’s language.”
Little Darling, who was having her first start since finishing powerfully from the rear to win the Group 2 Empress Stakes a fortnight earlier, has earned $276,583 from eleven wins and 18 placings from 44 starts.