Trainer Leroy Tomlinson is of the view that once Little Big Horn gets proper handling, the five-year-old bay horse has the quality to be competitive above claiming company.

Tomlinson made the observation after in-form apprentice, Oneil Scott piloted the speedy son of War Marshall to victory from gate to wire in an optional claiming event over 1,200 metres for a purse of $750,000 at Caymanas Park on Saturday.

Little Big Horn dismissed the tormenting from the off by Balazo up to the stretch drive but no sooner was this done he had to redouble his efforts to withstand the persistent challenge from the four-year-old filly Killer Bee (Aaron Chatrie) to hold the advantage back to the line by a length — registering his seventh career win from 48 starts.

One of three in the eight-horse field bearing a claiming tag of $550,000, Little Big Horn won at the end of June when campaigning on a $180,000 tag, and since then the bay horse has gone back up to campaign in the higher-claiming events.

Following the victory, Tomlinson said: “I am pleased with this win. He is a nice horse to train, not difficult at all as Little Big Horn has good qualities. You can do anything with him and get him to run decent races, providing you know how to handle him and select the right races. More than likely he will be claimed and I would like whosoever claims him to run him back and let me claim him again. This is an indication of the quality of horse that he is. He just needs quality care and he could go right back to the top.”

For the win, Little Big Horn netted $409,500 as the winner’s share, with Killer B claiming $136,500 as second money and Pleasant Secret taking third.

Little Big Horn was claimed by trainer Michael Francis from the race for owner Derrick Chambers.