Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
A patient drive by Deni Roberts paid dividends when the smart four-year-old Thelittle Master unwound a powerful late sprint to outclass the opposition in the $21,000 Sunday Times Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Thelittle Master, prepared by leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, was the $2.40 favourite from the No. 7 barrier, and Roberts bided her time in sixth position, one-out and two-back, before she urged the gelding forward with a three-wide burst from the 350m.
Thelittle Master sprinted fast to burst to the front 130m later before racing away to win by three lengths from the $4.40 third fancy Mister Macedon, rating 1.56. Hi Suga Rush ($2.80) disappointed in wilting to fourth after setting the pace.
Roberts said that the win was some compensation for Thelittle Master’s third behind Lord Titanium and Mister Macedon the previous week when he began from the outside of the back line and raced in ninth place before covering a lot of extra ground.
“Last week he had to pull three wide 1100m from home, and it was a very quick mile rate (1.55.8),” said Roberts. “Tonight, it was such a difference when he didn’t have to go until the 300m, and he outsprinted them.
“It was good to be able to drive like I did tonight when I thought he would have the speed to get over the leaders as long as we got the right trip, which we did. For him to pull away like that was a good sign that he is improving with every run.”
Thelittle Master is by former star pacer Vincent and is the second foal out of Christian Cullen mare Anna Faye, who raced 90 times for 12 wins, 19 placings and $79,497. Anna Faye’s first foal Veeforvictory (also by Vincent) had his 53rd start when he set the pace and was beaten a nose by the fast-finishing Whoz This in a 2400m race at Busselton on Friday night.