Latest news with #RichardLitt
The Australian
19-07-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Home-bred cheapie Romeo's Choice scores knockout victory in July Sprint at Rosehill
There's nothing flashy about Romeo's Choice, but his fighting qualities were on show for all to see when refusing to surrender in the July Sprint at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. At a time in Australian racing where horses purchased for $500,000 or more are a common occurrence every Saturday in Sydney, Romeo's Choice was conceived at Cangon Stud in Dungog from a $2200 service fee. 'He's not one of these million-dollar horses, he's just a home-bred in the back paddock with his owners and it's so wonderful for them and it shows these great racing stories can happen,' trainer Richard Litt said. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'I'm just very happy for his owners and to get the job done is great. 'The owners are actually sending the mare to Perth to put her back in foal to his sire Choistar. 'Another little Romeo would be lovely.' The win was Romeo's Choice's seventh from 36 starts and his second from as many starts this preparation. 'He's come up great, he's a real gem,' Litt said. 'He just never gives up, a lovely honest horse. 'We had this race ear marked for him and it's worked out perfectly.' Romeo's Choice was put into a midfield position by Tom Sherry and when the leaders rolled away from the inside at the top of the straight, he snuck up the inside and set about chasing down the inform winter sensation Storm The Ramparts. The pair settled down to fight out the contest over the last 200m with Romeo's Choice getting the upper hand over the concluding stages. The win was Sherry's second for the day. 'He'll go on with this and I'm hoping he can keep improving because there some nice races coming up for him, maybe in Listed grade that he can be competitive in,' Litt said. • 'Put my neck on the line': Yoshinobu repays Archibald gamble 'There's a suitable Listed race coming up for him in Brisbane in a month and I think that's where he'd be best placed. 'He's a horse and he's just getting better with age.' Storm The Ramparts second placing for took his preparation haul to three wins and three runner-up finishes and post-race his rider Reece Jones was lamenting the defeat. 'He just ducked in on me,' he said. 'He's tough, going really well. It sucks to get beaten right on the line but you can't question his effort, if anything he might have been trying a bit hard.' Rounding out the placings in third was Godolphin's galloper Corniche which made a great start to the preparation but stable rep Darren Beadman is unsure who will take over the gelding's training when James Cummings finishes up at the end of the season. 'That was very good,' Beadman said. 'He's never run that well here at Rosehill before. 'He loomed to win but they just moved out under him, and it baulked him for a stride and then being first-up off such a long time, he just couldn't pick himself up quickly enough again. 'I'm not sure where he's going but the Missile (Stakes) looks perfect for him in two weeks.'
News.com.au
19-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Richard Litt's Romeo's Choice continues his winning streak with a gutsy performance to score at Rosehill
There's nothing flashy about Romeo's Choice, but his fighting qualities were on show for all to see when refusing to surrender in the Schweppes Open Sprint at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. At a time in Australian racing where horses purchased for $500,000 or more are a common occurrence every Saturday in Sydney, Romeo's Choice was conceived at Cangon Stud in Dungog from a $2200 service fee. 'He's not one of these million-dollar horses, he's just a home-bred in the back paddock with his owners and it's so wonderful for them and it shows these great racing stories can happen,' trainer Richard Litt said. 'I'm just very happy for his owners and to get the job done is great. 'The owners are actually sending the mare to Perth to put her back in foal to his sire Choistar. 'Another little Romeo would be lovely.' The win was Romeo's Choice's seventh from 36 starts and his second from as many starts this preparation. 'He's come up great, he's a real gem,' Litt said. 'He just never gives up, a lovely honest horse. 'We had this race ear marked for him and it's worked out perfectly.' Romeo's Choice was put into a midfield position by Tom Sherry and when the leaders rolled away from the inside at the top of the straight, he snuck up the inside and set about chasing down the inform winter sensation Storm The Ramparts. The pair settled down to fight out the contest over the last 200m with Romeo's Choice getting the upper hand over the concluding stages. The win was Sherry's second for the day. 'He'll go on with this and I'm hoping he can keep improving because there some nice races coming up for him, maybe in Listed grade that he can be competitive in,' Litt said. No tragedy here! Romeo’s Choice wins first-up, as class tells the tale. 🙌 @littracing @aus_turf_club â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 2, 2025 • 'Put my neck on the line': Yoshinobu repays Archibald gamble 'There's a suitable Listed race coming up for him in Brisbane in a month and I think that's where he'd be best placed. 'He's a horse and he's just getting better with age.' Storm The Ramparts second placing for took his preparation haul to three wins and three runner-up finishes and post-race his rider Reece Jones was lamenting the defeat. 'He just ducked in on me,' he said. 'He's tough, going really well. It sucks to get beaten right on the line but you can't question his effort, if anything he might have been trying a bit hard.' Rounding out the placings in third was Godolphin's galloper Corniche which made a great start to the preparation but stable rep Darren Beadman is unsure who will take over the gelding's training when James Cummings finishes up at the end of the season. 'That was very good,' Beadman said. 'He's never run that well here at Rosehill before. 'He loomed to win but they just moved out under him, and it baulked him for a stride and then being first-up off such a long time, he just couldn't pick himself up quickly enough again. 'I'm not sure where he's going but the Missile (Stakes) looks perfect for him in two weeks.'
News.com.au
10-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Barber overcomes tough run to post first win for new connections in Takeover Target Stakes
Ex-Godolphin sprinter Barber quickly proved he was a very wise investment with a stakes victory at just his second start for new trainer Richard Litt at Gosford on Saturday. Purchased for $215,000 at an Inglis Digital auction late last year, Barber paid off a significant portion of that price tag with a narrow win in the Listed $250,000 Takeover Target Stakes (1200m). It came at just his second start for Litt and delivered his owners a $140,000 windfall. 'They are maybe a little bit short (of the investment) but today would be a good payday,' Litt said. 'He is a wonderful horse, he ran extremely well first-up at Canterbury, probably a little bit unlucky. 'Today I couldn't watch when he was three-wide, I just bowed my head and thought oh well, what will be will be, and it was good to see him tough it out.' Jockey Tyler Schiller was unable to find cover and remained in the three-deep line throughout, making his run inside the final 600m alongside the Kris Lees -trained Brudenell ($11). The paired off to fight it and went toe-to-toe over the length of the home straight. Barber ($8) got his nose down when it counted to get the measure of Brudenell to score in a photo finish with the James Cummings -trained Spacewalk ($18) surging home for third. Barber's win ensured punters landed a significant plunge after he opened as much as $26 with bookies during the week. Barber with a gutsy win in a tight finish in the Takeover Target Stakes! @G1TySchil â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 10, 2025 • 'I saw the money coming for him, it's definitely not mine,' Litt said. 'But massive congratulations to Jason and the Monarch Racing boys. 'They put their money on the line to buy this horse and we've got a massive result.' Litt has been made a habit of winning with Godolphin cast-offs with the likes of Balkans, Huon, Sedition, Destination and Morton's Fork all successful for the trainer. 'They are wonderful to buy off,' Litt said. 'You know what you're getting. They're great horses. 'James is a wonderful trainer and they have a great team. 'They are very transparent and from my point of view, I am very lucky to be able to buy them.' Litt is open to heading to Queensland for a Brisbane winter carnival assault with Barber. The gelding holds nominations for the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 and in the Sunshine State.
Daily Telegraph
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
Ex-Godolphin gelding on Target for another stakes win
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Buying Godolphin cast-offs like Barber is a no-brainer for trainer Richard Litt and he's hoping his new addition can show exactly why in Saturday's Listed $250,000 Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford. Litt's connections Monarch Racing Syndications bought Barber for $215,000 at an Inglis Digital auction in December last year after the son of Exceed And Excel had his first 15 starts for 'The Blue Army'. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Barber won a $1 million Golden Gift and Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude as a two-year-old with Godolphin before being put up for sale midway through his four-year-old season. Litt has had city success with former Godolphin gallopers like Balkans, Huon, Sedition, Destination and Morton's Fork with Barber in line to add himself to the list at Gosford's stand-alone. 'They are wonderful to buy off, they are all nice horses,' Litt said. 'They are well bred, they've had a good start to life and you know you are getting a sound horse. 'It's a no-brainer for me.' Barber was unlucky not to get his first win on the board at his first start for Litt when he got out late and surged home in Benchmark 94 grade over 1100m at Canterbury Park. • 'Grey horse syndrome': Bois ignored in Doomben Cup defence 'We were very happy with his first start for us,' Litt said. 'We were expecting plenty from him and thought he could have won that race but unfortunately it didn't work out that well. 'He was unlucky there but that's alright. He's got 53kg, is drawn OK and has stripped a bit fitter. 'He likes the 1200m and loves a soft track.' Barber was also nominated for the Listed Australian Club Trophy (1200m) at the Gold Coast but a wide draw made Litt's decision to stay closer to home an easy one. Tyler Schiller will link up with Barber ($12) in the Takeover Target. The gelding also holds nominations for the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 and Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap in Queensland during the winter carnival. 'You never know but I would love to think he can get to those sort of races,' Litt said. Originally published as Former Godolphin galloper Barber is looking to give his rivals a snip in the Takeover Target Stakes
News.com.au
08-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Former Godolphin galloper Barber is looking to give his rivals a snip in the Takeover Target Stakes
Buying Godolphin cast-offs like Barber is a no-brainer for trainer Richard Litt and he's hoping his new addition can show exactly why in Saturday's Listed $250,000 Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford. Litt's connections Monarch Racing Syndications bought Barber for $215,000 at an Inglis Digital auction in December last year after the son of Exceed And Excel had his first 15 starts for 'The Blue Army'. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. Barber won a $1 million Golden Gift and Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude as a two-year-old with Godolphin before being put up for sale midway through his four-year-old season. Litt has had city success with former Godolphin gallopers like Balkans, Huon, Sedition, Destination and Morton's Fork with Barber in line to add himself to the list at Gosford's stand-alone. 'They are wonderful to buy off, they are all nice horses,' Litt said. 'They are well bred, they've had a good start to life and you know you are getting a sound horse. 'It's a no-brainer for me.' Barber was unlucky not to get his first win on the board at his first start for Litt when he got out late and surged home in Benchmark 94 grade over 1100m at Canterbury Park. It's Pisanello who flies down the outside to win race 7 at Canterbury with J-Mac in the saddle! ðŸ'� @mcacajamez @JamesCummings88 @godolphin — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 21, 2025 • 'Grey horse syndrome': Bois ignored in Doomben Cup defence 'We were very happy with his first start for us,' Litt said. 'We were expecting plenty from him and thought he could have won that race but unfortunately it didn't work out that well. 'He was unlucky there but that's alright. He's got 53kg, is drawn OK and has stripped a bit fitter. 'He likes the 1200m and loves a soft track.' Barber was also nominated for the Listed Australian Club Trophy (1200m) at the Gold Coast but a wide draw made Litt's decision to stay closer to home an easy one. Tyler Schiller will link up with Barber ($12) in the Takeover Target. The gelding also holds nominations for the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 and Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap in Queensland during the winter carnival. 'You never know but I would love to think he can get to those sort of races,' Litt said.
