Racing: Little Mother crushes Cup opposition

Little Mother. Photo / Wanganui Chronicle

Little Mother was absolutely scintillating when crushing her opposition in delivering back-to-back MTA Auckland Cup victories at the Manukau Stadium on Thursday.

The champion bitch, trained in Palmerston North by Lisa Ahern, had her opposition fully covered by the time the strong field raced into the first turn. From that point it was catch-me-if-you-can - they simply couldn't.

Little Mother was stalked by Winsome Opawa down the back and he finished off his effort in stout fashion when closing to within a half-length of the champ. Have A Yap was a gallant third.

"She is a dog of a lifetime, an absolute gem to train. I knew when Little Mother led through the first turn she would prove to be awfully hard to run down," said Ahern's kennel representative Brendon Cole.

Sydney-based owner Gordon Sciberras was back at the Manukau Stadium to witness his second Auckland Cup victory.

"Tremendous, you can call her a true champion. My heart was pumping throughout and when she hit the line, it was a total feeling of elation.

"Thank you so much to Lisa and Brendon - they are brilliant," said Sciberras.

Little Mother's winning $43,800 portion of the $75,000 stake shot her stake earnings out to $225,578 in career earnings, greatly assisted by 53 wins from 79 races.