By Frances O'Shea
Richard Litt heads to Wyong this Saturday with two very different prospects.
He saddles up debutant Montevecchio ($18 on TAB) in the 1600m Mercure Kooindah Waters Super Maiden and progressive mare La Signora Dane ($23) in the 1000m Domeland Bm64 Handicap.
Litt is keen to see how the daughter of Star Witness copes with her first attempt at provincial grade and equally as excited to see what Montevecchio can do as he launches his career.
The three-year-old is the son of Litt’s most successful horse to date, dual Group 1 winner Castelvecchio, who amassed almost $3 million in prizemoney from his 13 starts.
He now stands at Arrowfied and with the success of his early progeny including Group 1 winner El Castello, is regarded as the leading second season sire in Australia.
Montevecchio caught the eye of Litt at the Inglis Classic yearling sales and he purchased him for $45,000.
“I liked the look of him from the start. He stood out for me and obviously knowing the sire I was confident he could have ability,” he said.
“We have had to be patient with him. He’s a little bit green and we are starting him off over a mile, but we have given him three trials, so I think he’s ready.
“This will basically be just a learning experience for him. He should find his best over more ground.
“I think he’s a pretty nice horse, so fingers crossed he races well.”
Litt believes La Signora has earned the chance to step up to the provincials, with two wins from just four starts, and expects her to perform well.
The lightly raced five-year-old put together successive Canberra victories to kick off her second preparation before finishing fifth on the same track over 1200m last start, beaten a length.
She drops back to the 1000m, where her two career wins have come and will benefit from Braith Nock’s 3kg claim.
“I think she should run well,” Litt said. “She has a bit of ability and is ready to take the next step. This looks like a good race for her.”
The first of eight races gets underway at 1.30pm with the track currently rated a Soft 5.
SELECTIONS
Race 1 – 1.30pm: WYONG LEAGUES GROUP BM64 (2000m): 1 CORMAC T, 2 Oakfield Mamselle, 3 Coto De Caza, 4 Just Boogie.
Race 2 – 2.05pm: TAB.COM.AU CLASS 1 (1600m): 1 JACK OF ACES, 2 Stylebender, 3 Pasima, 4 Waterville.
Race 3 – 2.40pm: MECURE KOOINDAH WATERS SUPER MAIDEN (1600m): 1 LADY JUSTICE, 2 Samphire Green, 3 Neviim, 4 Hardash.
Race 4 – 3.15pm: DE BORTOLI PROVINCIAL BM68 (1600m): 1 JACK DUGGAN, 2 Guzumped, 3 Oakfield Prince, 4 Without You.
Race 5 – 3.50pm: DOMELAND BM64 (1000m): 1 ZEALOUSLY, 2 La Signora Dane, 3 Zoe Shark, 4 Not Written Off.
Race 6 – 4.30pm: COTTER ACCOUNTANTS MAIDEN (1000m): 1 MISS TRENTINO, 2 Puerto Banus, 3 Magnolia Jewel, 4 Royal Armada.
Race 7 – 5.05pm: WYONG EQUINE CLINIC MIDWAY MAIDEN (1200m): 1 SYNERGIZE, 2 Artifactx, 3 Suncone, 4 Overland.
Race 8 – 5.45pm: SKY CHANNEL CLASS 1 (1200m): 1 CREEK, 2 Plaza, 3 Ohtani 4 Oakfield Triumph.
View the final fields with full form & race replays for Wyong here