Little chasing Country Cups breakthrough

By Glenn Davis 

Ilfracombe trainer Rodney Little is hoping Fine Shot will qualify for the Country Cups Challenge Final at Doomben in December when the gelding tackles a qualifying heat at Blackall on Saturday.

The Blackall qualifier will be run over 1400 metres and Little is confident the six-year-old can produce a strong showing in just his fifth start for the stable.

It would not be a Final of Queensland’s lucrative country features in Brisbane each year without Little’s presence.

Little has been a regular visitor for the deciders of the Country Stampede in December and the Battle of the Bush, which is run each June, but he’s yet to have a starter in the Country Cups Challenge Final.

The veteran conditioner saddled his first feature runner in the inaugural Battle of the Bush Final in 2018 when Kakakenny finished ninth, beaten only three lengths, by the Olivia Cairns-trained Mason’s Chance. 

He returned the following year with Kakakenny, who finished fifth behind Hanover Square.

Another stable star, Boingo, made the trip south, finishing third, beaten just over one length by V J Day in the Country Stampede Final in 2021.

Little made another trip in search of a country feature win with Jarhead, who finished fourth in the 2022 Battle of the Bush Final, which was won by Ammoudi Bay.

“I’ve been to Brisbane a few times for the Stampede and Battle of the Bush, but I’ve never had a runner in the Country Cups Challenge Final,” the 77-year-old conditioner said. 

“I’m hoping Fine Shot can make the Final and Tokyo Sins will keep them honest in the Stampede qualifier.”

Little was an amateur jockey in his youth and has been training for more than six decades.

“I’ve been at Ilfracombe for around 11 years now and I’ve only got five in work,” Little said.

“That’s enough to keep me busy.”

Little expects Fine Shot to figure in the finish in the Country Cups Challenge qualifier following the gelding’s last-start third behind the Toni Schofield-trained Northumbria in the 1400 metre Jundah Cup on October 3.

“He wasn’t beaten far, but I had to put an apprentice on after my normal jockey took another ride,” Little said.

“I’ve only had him for a few runs after his previous trainer Raymond Williams was having a bit of trouble with him.

“Ray is a mate of mine and I’ve trained for him in the past.”

Little is also hopeful Tokyo Sins will run a big race in the Country Stampede qualifier.

Tokyo Sins beat one runner home at her last appearance when 10th to Mississippi Morn at Emerald last Saturday.

“She’s only a pony and she’s getting on in age, being an eight-year-old, but she’s quick,” Little said.

“She’s not going as well now as she was earlier in the year and there was a six-week period when there were no suitable races for her.”