Godolphin cast-offs fine fodder for Richard Litt

Best known as the trainer of dual Group 1 winner turned Arrowfield Stud stallion Castelvecchio, Richard Litt has also carved out somewhat of a niche with cast-offs from the powerful Godolphin operation.

While trying to pick out racing’s next star at the yearling sales will always offer appeal, it is high risk and requires patience.

In taking on tried horses, particularly from a yard like Godolphin renowned for being meticulous in its processes, Litt has been able to source well-educated, sound horses who can provide seasons of fun for connections.

“You can go out and buy yearlings and yeah, that’s great and that suits some people,” Litt said.

“But you do have to wait a bit of time for them to produce, whereas these Godolphin horses, you buy them and you’re at the races in a couple of months and I think that’s very appealing to owners.

“It’s a big investment these days to have horses in training, especially in Sydney, so you’re getting a horse that can run around the midweeks, the provincials, and even a few on Saturdays in town like Munitions.

“Some people think it’s all about winning but it’s not. It’s about covering costs and going out to the races on a Saturday or a Wednesday and having a good time.”

Litt will have up to three runners at Randwick on Saturday and two of them, Huon and Damaged, were purchased as tried horses out of Sheikh Mohammed’s team.

While Damaged is first emergency for the Midway Handicap (1200m), Huon is a definite starter in the Vale Ray Selkrig Handicap (1100m) as he bids to remain unbeaten for his new stable.

The winner of three of his nine starts for James Cummings, Huon was acquired by Litt earlier this year and after two encouraging barrier trials, kicked off with a strong win in midweek grade at Canterbury.

“He’s a beautiful horse. He is only young and he’s still maturing too so there is plenty of upside to him,” Litt said.

“It’s good to have Jason (Collett) on, a good senior rider at this time of year and I couldn’t be happier with him at home.”

Litt’s one reservation is a wide draw in barrier 10 of 11 and if it wasn’t for Huon’s awkward gate, he would be heading to Randwick full of confidence.

“I had really set him up nicely for this race, given him plenty of time from his first run to this run, and then we draw like rubbish,” he said.

“We would have loved to have ridden him up into a position, but I’d say from that barrier we’re going to have to ride him a little bit quiet on Saturday and see how he runs home.”

Litt will wait until race morning to decide if stable stalwart Lancaster Bomber takes his place in the Midway Handicap from a wide draw or heads to Canterbury on Wednesday, while Damaged is likely to run if he gains a start.

He says both horses are going better than their form suggests and will be competitive wherever they line up.