Mark Bradley snapped this one of Col Little in the parade yard at Randwick before Ista Kareem’s Sydney Cup win - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
When Colin Little walked away from his Caulfield training base late last year, he knew that retirement wasn’t too far away. He intended to keep training at Pakenham in the immediate future, but an ironic twist of fate intervened. Early in March he made the snap decision to relinquish his licence. He joins us on the podcast to explain the reason for his hasty departure.
Colin talks of his attachment to Caulfield where he was born and would spend his entire racing life.
He reflects on the riding career of his jockey father Bill Little, who was one of many Australian jockeys to ride in India in the 1930’s and 40’s.
He looks back on his own original apprenticeship to Rod Turvey and a subsequent transfer to a former champion jockey who was getting his training career under way in Melbourne.
Col admits his riding career was brief and unspectacular.
He pays tribute to the legendary Caulfield trained racehorse Lord who dominated weight for age racing in Melbourne in the late 50’s and early 60’s. Caulfield track regulars were in awe of him.
Col’s training career started on a hobby basis. He would work a horse or two at first light before dashing off to his day job.
He vividly remembers the thrill of training his first winner at Traralgon. It was a mare with a masculine name. In winning his first metropolitan race, he helped a famous jockey to win a premiership.
You can hear the admiration in Col’s voice when he talks of Testimony - the horse who launched his training career. Testimony won an amazing 13 city races. The horse was part owned by Joan Herman who became a very valued client for the Little stable.
Colin pays tribute to his late wife Jacqui who died much too soon. He says Jacqui’s artistic touch enabled them to renovate an old Caulfield home which nowadays has heritage listing.
The retired trainer pays a fitting tribute to his once in a lifetime horse El Segundo. He takes us through the ups and downs in the career of a horse whose four Gr 1 wins includes a W.S. Cox Plate in 2007.
Col reflects on the veteran stayer who arrived at his place from Adelaide. Ista Kareem raced on for another two and a half years in Colin’s care winning 6 races including a Sydney Cup.
He talks of Blutigeroo, another second hand horse with whom he’d win the Gr 1 BMW at Rosehill. He picked up a Hobart Cup along the way.
Colin pays tribute to some of the brilliant jockeys who rode for the stable over the years.
He says he’ll be closely monitoring the career of one of his favourites, Vassilator. Col won five races with the chestnut, all at Flemington. He sent the horse to Lisa Jones at Somerville when he made the call to retire.
It’s a farewell chat with the man they once called “Mr Caulfield.”
(Banner image - 11 Ista Kareem (Craig Williams) hangs on grimly to beat Divine Rebel (Kerrin McEvoy) in the 2009 Sydney Cup - courtesy Bradley Photographers.)
El Segundo (Luke Nolen) came from mid-field to stroll home in the 2007 Cox Plate. Wonderful World and Haradasun filled the placings - courtesy Racing Photos
A simple but elegant trophy - Col finally got his hands on the coveted Cox Plate in 2007 - courtesy Racing Photos.
Damian Oliver in one of his two wins on Vassilator for the Little stable - courtesy Racing Photos.
Another Sydney Gr. 1 win for Col Little - The BMW at Rosehill with Blutigeroo - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.