Little Vista back to his best after sweaty run

By Jordan Gerrans

Veteran sprinter Little Vista has been a labour of love for trainer Wendy Bannerot in recent years and she was over the moon after the gelding scored first-up on Sunday at Caloundra.

It was the seven-year-old’s first victory since way back in October of 2023.

Earlier in 2023, he recorded a hat-trick of victories across the space of a month.

There is plenty of talent within Little Vista, but the veteran horsewoman has had to work diligently to recapture it.

After Little Vista developed anhidrosis earlier in his career, the Sunshine Coast-based Bannerot had to think outside the box to get him back to his best.

Preparing racehorses is just a small part of Bannerot’s operation as she rehabilitates horses for other trainers while also being a Queensland Off-The-Track Acknowledged Retrainer.

Anhidrosis is a condition where horses have an inability to sweat adequately, which is of course a concern when a horse is racing in the climate of Queensland. 

Bannerot, who has studied extensively in animal science, developed a specific program to treat Little Vista, which is also now being used by other horses.

“I usually do physical rehab work more, things like muscles, tendons, joints, kissing spines and stuff like that,” she detailed.

“I did a lot of research on reversing anhidrosis and he was the horse that I developed it for.

“It's been going for probably about four years now and it's quite a successful program.

“Little Vista still doesn't do as well in heat so that's why I try to spell him over the summer.

“But, with that program that I've developed, he does sweat now.

“He was the horse that I developed the program for so, he's quite a special kind of horse to me.”

Bannerot holds a Bachelor of Science (Animal Science) and an Associate of Science (Animal Science) from the University of Delaware, USA, as well as a number of formal qualifications obtained from recognised tertiary education and training institutions for a wide range of therapy services, including a Diploma in Animal Acupuncture.

She owns and operates Equine Edge Rehabilitation and has around five decades of experience in the racing industry.

Little Vista had his last start for 2025 in late September before heading to the paddock over the summer months.

He was back at the track on Sunday, without a public trial, over 1000 metres in Benchmark 60 grade.

The seven-year-old gelding was initially an emergency for the Caloundra race and needed to wait for scratching’s to sneak in.

Little Vista developed anhidrosis after running second at Beaudesert on a hot and humid day earlier in his career.

Bannerot detailed the program she implemented to get the son of Fighting Sun back near his peak performance as well as other horses who have gone through a similar regime.

“I put them in a fully insulated air-conditioned box with big thick plexiglass windows and two air conditioners that go 24 hours a day,” she said.

“That brings the temperature right down.

“They get cryotherapy and acupuncture on top of that. They get a certain amount of exercise on the treadmill.

“In about a week's time, they're sweating when they're working.

“About 99% of them go home and don't have another problem.”

Little Vista went 15 starts without victory before promising apprentice Bella Youngberry lifted him to score on Sunday.

Youngberry, who is leading the provincial apprentice’s title in the 2025-26 campaign, put Little Vista into the leading pack soon after the start from barrier four.

Little Vista showed a good kick in the home straight to score by more than a length.

The 62-year-old Bannerot praised Youngberry’s effort on her gelding.

“She rode him terrific,” the trainer said.

“She listened to me, she took everything on board and she couldn't have done a better job. I was just looking to get a little bit of weight off his back with her claim first-up.

“I think the weight off helped him being an older horse. He's always kind of been a horse that tries. He's seven now, so he's got some niggling problems. When he's feeling good, he tries.

“I was quite happy to see him come off that spell and be able to put in an effort like that. That bodes for a good prep for him.”

Bannerot will find a suitable race for Little Vista in the coming weeks for his second-up effort.

The Sunshine Coast trainers prepares a team of around a handful while also managing her other equine business interests.