Ellis pilots Likkle Bit to combative win

Saturday, November 21, 2009 10:53 PM

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By Hurbun Williams Observer writer

Friday, November 06, 2009

Two vintage displays in the saddle from former champion jockey Shane Ellis and champion and leading trainer Wayne DaCosta, who also saddled two winners, highlighted the nine-race no-trophy midweek card at Caymanas Park on Wednesday.

Riding with great aplomb in both instances running on, Ellis first booted home the 3-1 bet Kamechi to win the $350,000 - $ $300,000 claiming event for three-year-olds and upward over 1,000m round in the fourth race for trainer Ryan Darby.

A muddied Shane Ellis aboard Likkle Bit heads for the winner's enclosure following their narrow victory at Caymanas Park on Wednesday. (Photo: Hurbun Williams)

Ellis, who is fifth in the jockeys standings with 47 wins, returned four races later to close a fine double for champion and leading trainer Wayne DaCosta and himself aboard another 3-1 bet, Likkle Bit, in the Overnight Allowance event for three-year-olds and upward.

DaCosta had earlier saddled another American-bred, two-year-old juvenile Double The Honey, to victory in the $715,000 maiden special weight event for native-bred and imported two-year-olds over 1,200 metres in the third race.

The American juvenile, the 1-4 favourite, won the event in an impressive 1:13.1 to beat another American, Top Bop with Ellis up by 7 1⁄2 lengths a seven-horse field.

In the absence of a sponsored race on the card, the Overnight Allowance event took centre stage with quality performances from Likkle Bit, Aquila, Slogan and Tobago.

Aquila, Slogan and Tobago made Likkle Bit work every inch of the way before claiming the narrow victory. He ran 1,400m in 1:27.1 to beat Tobago a 9-2 betting option ridden by Clive Lynch by one length. It was the gelding's second win from eight starts this season in the seven-horse field for three-year-olds and upward.

Owned by New Blue Limited, Likkle Bit, a four-year-old bay gelding by Family Calling out of Herecomethegilrs (Nothern Flagship), was bred by Lawrence Heffes in the USA.

It was the gelding's fifth win from 23 career starts and he earned $390,400 as the winner's share for earnings of $2,708,350 lifetime.

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