Wexford Stables enjoyed a winning afternoon on both sides of the Tasman on Saturday, including a fourth win in a row for breakthrough performer Little Bit Of Love (NZ) (Time Test) in the Elsdon Park (1400m) at Pukekohe.
Little Bit Of Love’s heroics came less than an hour after his three-year-old stablemate Geriatrix (NZ) (Almanzor) took out the A$85,000 HKJC Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm in his first Australian start.
“It’s been a very special day today, and it’s a credit to all of our team,” said Lance O’Sullivan, who trains in partnership with Andrew Scott at Matamata.
This has been a coming-of-age campaign for Little Bit Of Love, who made his debut with a well-beaten ninth on his home track in December. The four-year-old son of Time Test was a maiden winner at Tauranga second-up in early January, followed by seventh and fifth placings in his next two starts. Then he started winning and never looked back.
Little Bit Of Love strung together three victories in a row at Te Rapa, producing booming finishes out wide on the track to win a 1300m Rating 65 and two 1400m Rating 75 events.
He stayed in the same grade again on Saturday but rose to the top of the handicap at 60.5kg, with apprentice jockey Ngakau Hailey reducing that impost to 57.5kg with his 3kg claim.
Hailey was in no hurry in the early stages of the race, easing back to third-last as his best-credentialled rival Wessex (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) took up her customary role in the lead.
Wessex still had plenty to offer at the top of the straight and scooted away from the field, while Hailey brought Little Bit Of Love to the outside to produce the finishing flourish that is becoming his trademark.
Little Bit Of Love hit top gear and soon drew up alongside Wessex, who fought back hard on his inside. In a head-bobbing battle through the last 100m, Little Bit Of Love gradually gained the upper hand and edged out Wessex by a head. The third-placed Jack In The Box (NZ) (Jakkalberry) finished another two lengths behind the first pair.
Little Bit Of Love has now had a total of eight starts for five wins, earning $99,725 in stakes.
“He’s really put things together this autumn,” O’Sullivan said. “It’s probably fair to say that he’s no oil painting, but he tries very hard and that’s a big part of the battle. It’s not easy to win four races in a row.
“We’ll get him home now and see how he comes through this race before deciding on our next move. He could go to the paddock, or there might be another race for him coming up somewhere. He’s in such good form at the moment and gets through rain-affected ground well, and that’s what we’re racing on at the moment.”
Little Bit Of Love was bred by Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax and is raced by the One Second Syndicate, managed by their daughter Kylie. He is a half-brother to the four-race winner and multiple stakes placegetter Cork (NZ) (Complacent).
