Saturday’s meeting at Wentworth Park was an occasion more than 60 years in the making for trainer John Little.
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Little has prepared hundreds of winners in a career dating back to his first success ‘back in 1954 or 55’, but none have compared to the Wilton resident’s triumph on NSW greyhound racing’s biggest night over the weekend.
The veteran trainer claimed his first ever black type success when his classy chaser Black Hole Sun’s took out the Group 3 The Ambrosoli (520m) on Golden Easter Egg night.
“We have plenty of winners but never a group race. It’s a pretty good feeling,” Little said.
“I’ve been in a few finals, with a few placings, but this is the first win.
“We were lucky enough to get a couple of good ones.”
Little currently has a modest team of eight dogs in work, with another eight pups coming through.
He rates Black Hole Sun among the best he has ever had.
“He is up there with some the best of them, but we have had some good ones without a lot of luck,” Little said.
“We have had some very fast dogs.”
Black Hole Sun jumped from box two in his $25,000-to-the-winner final victory.
While he missed the start, it proved to be an advantage as the field jammed up on the first turn.
It allowed Black Hole Sun ($8) to push to the front along the fence.
Once in the lead, he was able to hold off Paul Stuart’s Astrozone ($6) and Andrea Dailly trained Shima Song ($7) to claim the Group 3.
“He was a bit slow to go but there was a bit of carnage on the corner and he took advantage of it,” Little said.
“He took off and they couldn’t run him down then.”
Little will give Black Hole Sun another run at Wenworth Park on Wednesday night.
The trainer says he has recovered from his victory over the weekend well and will start his Group 3 winner in the Evans & Son Bracelet 29/4 Stakes (520m).
Black Hole Sun will jump from box seven while kennelmate Queens Of Ziems will jump from box eight in the same race.