Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Lightly-raced WA-bred filly Little Darling ended a frustrating run of placings when she gave a commanding performance to race in the breeze before careering away from her rivals to score an effortless victory in the $20,250 Smooth FM Perth On Digital Radio Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Her previous eight starts produced six seconds, one third and one fourth. Little Darling is prepared by Busselton trainer Barry Howlett, who bred the three-year-old and races her in partnership with his wife Lyn and their son Jimmy. She now has had 21 starts for six wins, ten placings and $115,699.
She was the $2 favourite from out wide at barrier No. 7, but Chris Lewis had no hesitation in sending her forward from the outset to race without cover while the $3.50 second fancy Elli Mirando was setting a modest pace following a fast lead time of 36.2sec.
The opening quarters were run in leisurely style in 32.3sec. and 29.6sec. before the third quarter of the final mile whizzed by in 28.sec. Little Darling then surged to the front at the 400m, and the final section was run in 29.6sec. with Little Dartling winning by three and a half lengths from $201 outsider Bonstar, who finished solidly from seventh at the bell. The winner rated 1.57.8 over the 2130m.
“She was a bit underdone last week (when second to Rockmyster),” said Howlett. “She is a very good horse and will be a really good four-year-old next year. She hasn’t had many starts because she has had really bad feet.”
Little Darling is by Art Major and is the first foal out of the Bettors Delight mare Fay Darling, who raced 22 times in WA for five wins (three at Pinjarra and one each at Albany and Bunbury), seven placings and $33,106.
Fay Darling’s dam Molly Darling was a brilliant pacer who earned $506,033 from 24 wins and 18 placings from 72 starts. Fay Darling’s half-brother No Doctor Needed had 84 starts for 16 wins, 28 placings and $330,085.