Bad timing for Charlotte Littlefield ahead of the Sandown Guineas

Pakenham-based trainer Charlotte Littlefield has not had many opportunities of success in ‘Black Type’ races and will miss her latest attempt at Caulfield.

A planned trip back to England, booked six months ago, means Littlefield will miss out on seeing Modown line up in the Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m) on Saturday.

Littlefield has saddled nine runners in Stakes company to date, for three placings. She has not had a starter at Group 1 level and only two in Group 2 races, each time unplaced.

“I haven’t seen my family for five years and I booked this about six months ago,” Littlefield said.

“They were cheap flights and I thought ‘perfect timing, November 30, nothing will be happening’ and all of sudden we’ve got five runners, three city runners and one in a Group 2.

“It couldn’t be worse timing, but I couldn’t put it back. My dad’s 83 and it’s probably the last trip we have together, going around and doing something special.”

Littlefield and the connections of Modown have a sense of hope about the gelding, knocking back significant offers for the three-year-old.

A winner of a Sale maiden on October 29 at his second start, Modown then finished second in the Listed The Amanda Elliott (1400m) at Flemington on November 11.

The Sandown Guineas had been planned as an end goal if Modown could sustain his preparation.

Littlefield said jockey Craig Williams, who has ridden the Modown in each of his three starts, reported the gelding was gaining maturity with each outing.

“Craig thinks every time that he has ridden him that he has got better and better, so obviously we go into Saturday with plenty of confidence,” Littlefield said.

“I think the lead up has been perfect, so the three weeks between runs from the Amanda Elliott to this has been spot on for the horse.

“Ultimately, we just what him to jump and be there and be a bit closer.

“That’s the thing that gives him away a bit at the moment, he can be half-a-stride slow away, but I think the horse’s maturity has brought him on each race and over the mile, it should be perfect, it will give him a bit more time to warm into it.”