De Little Engine trounces rivals in Vintage Crop Handicap
DE Little Engine made short work of its rivals in the $100,000 Vintage Crop Handicap at Flemington on Saturday, scoring an effortless staying victory.
The Danny O’Brien-trained six-year-old had the class edge over the field, having run in the Caulfield Cup and having finished close up in the Sandown Cup and Roy Higgins Quality.
That class was evident on race day as apprentice jockey Ben Thompson settled the son of Encosta de Lago third from last before making an early run around the outside of runners. That proved to be the winning move and De Little Engine went through its gears and put multiple lengths on the field in the straight.
“He’s a little beauty this horse, very honest,” Thompson said. “He has been so consistent and he really deserved that win today.
“He was full of himself and heading to the first turn they were going a pretty decent slip. They went slow at the back through to the 1000m and he was itching to go.
“I was waiting for Purple Smile (Jordan Childs) to pop out early, but I had to take things upon myself.
“I let him roll at the half mile and by the 400m he was ready to rip and he did it today.”
Stable representative Matt Harrington was concerned about the short price on offer with bookmakers earlier in the day, but those nerves were put to bed following the race.
“You get a bit nervous when he comes up at $1.70 earlier today,” Harrington said about De Little Engine which paid $2.40 at Sportsbet. “He did what he had to do and he won it quite well.”
Punters had grown increasingly frustrated with the six-year-old having promised plenty, but not quite getting the job done.
“He’s that sort of horse. He does a bit wrong, but today he jumped well, got into a nice spot but they went so slow… (he) kept getting dragged back and back,” Harrington said.
“He hasn’t run a poor race in that time – he ran ninth in the Caulfield Cup. Obviously that’s too big a grade for him.”
The cheap weanling purchase has more than earned its keep and has now taken its career earnings over the $600,000 mark.
“He has earned more than half a million dollars – any horse you buy for $40,000 as a weanling and he does that, you’re happy to pay for some of those entry fees,” Harrington added.
Refectory made good ground for second after winning at Caulfield last time out and Lacques held on well after sitting near the speed.