Little Hoping He's Learned From Past

Tuesday, 26 February 2008 00:00

Caulfield trainer Colin Little is hoping a decision to keep Hobart Cup placegetter Ista Kareem in Tasmania between runs will pay off in Wednesday's Group Three Launceston Cup.

Little learned a lesson last year when he landed the quinella in the Hobart Cup with Blutigeroo and Rubijon and was unable to get either horse to back up in the Launceston Cup.

Little said that 16 days to recover from the Hobart Cup run and a flight back to the mainland was insufficient time for both horses to compete at Launceston.

"I ran first and second at Hobart last year and I brought them home straight away, but I couldn't get them back for Launceston," Little said.

Ista Kareem has been staying at David Brunton's stable at Seven Mile Beach since finishing third to fellow Victorians Offenbach and Jacques Le Naif in the Hobart Cup (2200m) on February 11.

Little expects the extra 200 metres of the Launceston Cup will help Ista Kareem who was third to Exalted Time in the 2006 Adelaide Cup (3200m).

"The further the better for him," Little said. "The extra 200 metres is going to be beneficial.

"They were always going to be a bit nippy for him at Hobart. His goal all along was the Launceston Cup.

Ista Kareem now only has to contend with eight rivals following the withdrawal of local hopes Conquering and Saval Prince.

Six of the nine runners are from Victoria and they head the TAB Sportsbet market for the $300,000 event.

Last-start Caulfield winner Saratime is the $2.90 favourite ahead of Britomart ($3.50), Nine Wives ($4.80), Ista Kareem ($7), Lady Atire ($10) and Jacques Le Naif ($11).

Best of three Tasmanian runners is Lunardi ($15), while 2005 Hobart Cup winner Our Dashing Dane is $16 and Morsonique the outsider at $126.

Danny Brereton rode Ista Kareem when he carried 58.5kg in the Hobart Cup and on Wednesday he rides the gelding with marginal relief as the topweight again with 58kg.

Little said weight had become a problem for Ista Kareem who only once in his last seven starts has carried less than 58kg, and that was when ridden by a claiming apprentice.

"I think he is going well but has paid for his consistency," Little said.

Ista Kareem was earlier prepared by now-retired trainer Jeremy Gask and since joining Little's stable last winter has raced 11 times for wins in a 1600-metre win Bendigo and victories over 2040 metres and 2500 metres at Moonee Valley.

He was also stakes-placed when second to Hillston Exchange in the Listed Winter Championship (1600m) at Sandown in July but his first placing in five runs this campaign was in the Hobart Cup.

"He was slow to get going this campaign but I'm happy with him now," Little said.

Saratime failed at his only try at 2400-metres in last season's Queensland Derby but trainer John Moloney is confident that, now more mature, he is better prepared to handle the distance.

Rick Hore-Lacy is buoyant about the chances of Britomart who he believes should have won her last four starts in Melbourne.

She has posted three wins this year but two starts ago gave Craig Williams a torrid ride for nearly half of a 2500-metre race at Flemington when she fired up in the lead and finished a 2-1/2-length fourth to Saddler's Story on February 2.

"She has got to be a chance," Hore-Lacy said. "She is by Zabeel and she is improving all the time."

PIC - Quentin Lang.