LITTLE MIX LANDS A SPARKLING DEBUT WIN

By Graham Potter | Saturday, November 13, 2021

There are very few things that are sweeter at the time than a debut win by a stable runner.

It might not be a moment of lucrative earnings with its associated glory but, in theory, a debut win in any environment brings a measure of satisfaction and reward after all of the preparatory work that the trainer has put in, as well as adding a touch of confidence to the scenario moving forward as the result suggests the trainer has something to work with.

For Michael Nolan, the three-year-old filly Little Mix ticked all of those boxes with a first-up win at Toowoomba on November 13, scoring over 1210m in a Maiden Plate … but there was nothing straightforward about the win. In fact, it contained a bit of drama.

Firstly, the result was a massive turnaround in performance from Little Mix’s only trial effort ten days earlier where she finished last of five runners. Taken in that context, it was hardly surprising that Little Mix started at odds of $31 and her antics at the start would hardly have had punters changing their minds.

As described in the official steward’s report, ‘The start of this race was delayed due to Little Mix dislodging its rider at the barriers. As a result of landing on her right knee App. A. Patis was examined by the Ambulance Officers and cleared to fulfill her riding engagement.’

And then there was nothing easy for Little Mix in the actual running of the race.

Little Mix jumped from the widest gate (barrier 11) … wasn’t the greatest away … and dropped out to the rear from her bad gate. With the pace on up front, that left Little Mix trailing by some twelve lengths halfway through the race. A second mention in the steward’s report indicated that, ‘Little Mix- at the 700m carried wider by Saphire Touch,’ but the filly was completely unfazed and the first impressive part was how Patis and Little Mix gained ground in the sweep to the turn, seemingly without any great effort.

In seventh place, three wide, Little Mix still had it all to do on straightening. With a wall of horses in front of her, Little Mix, with her inexperience, did run around a little early in the straight, but when Patis angled her out for a run, she took on the challenge like a seasoned veteran, chasing hard out wider on the track once in clear air and never relenting until she got up top snare Zou Zouamore in the closing strides after the $3.30 favourite had hit the front halfway up the straight seemingly set for victory.

Oh yes, there was just time for one last mention of Little Mix in the steward’s report which further stated, ‘A. Patis had her whip struck out of her hand over the concluding stages’.

All in all, it was winning the hard way … but winning it was … and an impressive win at that, given the number of disadvantages Little Mix had to overcome.

Little Mix is owned by the Nolan’s long-time friend and client Kim McCasker. Chances are they have lost count how many winners they have had together.

The wins for the stable have been anything but routine lately with Nolan’s previous winner, Bearnas, having to survive a protest before keeping the win he had achieved on the track. Bearnas was also a long-priced winner … he started at $26 … so there have been a couple of happy returns for those punters who have kept faith and stuck fast with the Nolan stable.

Read more of the Bearnas story here
FROM BEING AN EMERGENCY, TO WINNING BOTH ON THE TRACK & IN THE STEWARD'S ROOM - IT WAS QUITE A RIDE

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