Litt banking on Barber to make the cut in 2025 Takeover Target Stakes
Richard Litt’s stable has welcomed yet another ex-Godolphin runner with Barber, a stakes-winning sprinter, poised to take his place in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes (1100m) at Gosford.
Barber, winner of the 2023 Blue Diamond Prelude, was acquired by Monarch Bloodstock for $215,000 through the Inglis digital sale in December. It’s the latest move by the emerging syndication outfit, and trainer Richard Litt is optimistic about the partnership.
“He was bought by Jason Micallef from Monarch Racing, which is a pretty new syndicator making his way in the last couple of years in Sydney and he has supported me loads with horses,” Litt said.
“I appreciate him giving him to me and he fits our mould, an older sprinter having a bit of a change of atmosphere.
“Godolphin are always wonderful people to buy off. The horses have always been well looked after, they’re well bred, they’re well everything.”
Litt’s previous success with horses like Morton’s Fork and Sedition has set a high bar, but he believes Barber is more than capable of delivering.
The gelding resumed with a luckless third at Canterbury, and Litt expects a more polished performance this Saturday.
“He is a big, gross horse so he went to Canterbury a little underdone but was unlucky not to win, really,” Litt said.
“His work since then has been excellent. He likes soft ground by the looks of his form and Tyler (Schiller) is back on with 53 kilos.”
Barber also held a nomination for Brisbane this Saturday but was rerouted to Gosford due to an awkward draw. Nonetheless, races like the Doomben 10,000 and Stradbroke Handicap remain targets.
“I think he’s exciting and hopefully, he can run really well and then we can take him to Brisbane for the winter. That would be the plan,” Litt said.
“He is sound as a bell and he is an amazingly well looked after horse so I’m very happy to have him.”
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