Racing: Littorio notches timely win in BMW

SYDNEY - Littorio's win in the The BMW at Rosehill on Saturday was an emotional occasion for connections of the stayer, with Melbourne trainer Nigel Blackiston dedicating the performance to one of the horse's part-owners Mark Barrett, who is suffering from a rare form of leukaemia.

Barrett was only recently rediagnosed with the disease and wasn't well enough to be at Rosehill to see his horse storm home from the tail of the field to win the 2400m weight-for-age contest.

His son and fellow part-owner Tim was on track and said the win would prove a big boost to his father.

"It's going to be a tough battle, but this is a big boost," Tim Barrett said.

"This is the first horse where we went to the sales together.

"I have known Nigel my whole life because of Dad and Nigel showed us this horse at the sales and liked him.

"Dad called me a couple of days later and said to me 'Nigel bought that horse and I've taken a share in it and put your name in it, too'."

Littorio ($17) had to overcome his own battle to get to the track with Blackiston saying the gelding had a hoof injury earlier in the week which became infected.

But the 5-year-old took his place and scored the biggest win of his and his trainer's career, defeating Auckland Cup winner Zavite ($31) by a neck with No Wine No Song ($26) a length away third.

Favourite Theseo ($3.10) led but for the second year in a row failed to run the 2400m and finished fourth, two lengths from Littorio.

The BMW victory was only Littorio's third win in 23 career starts but two of them have been in group ones.

The gelding hadn't won since scoring in the Turnbull Stakes in October, 2008.

"He's been a super horse and we love him to bits, the owners and myself," Blackiston said.

"This one is especially for Mark Barrett.

"Mark and I have been friends for 20 years. He's had cancer twice before and now he's got it for the third time. Hopefully, this will give him a lift and he can beat it again."

Littorio was bought for just A$15,000 but has now gone on to amass prizemoney of more than A$2.3 million.

He missed the last spring carnival and almost all of the previous autumn after he jarred up during the 2008 spring.

"We bought him as a bit of a country horse as a bit of fun for some friends. To come to these heights is unbelievable," Blackiston said.

Littorio was second last turning for home but jockey Craig Williams brought him to the outside and he unleashed a strong burst to get past Zavite who had to do it tough early.

Littorio will progress to the Sydney Cup (3200m) later this month with Blackiston keen to find out whether he does stay the trip after finishing 13th in the 2008 Melbourne Cup.

Zavite is also Sydney Cup bound with trainer Anthony Cummings to decide what lead-up race to contest.

"If he got the right run in the first part of the race he wins for sure," Cummings said.

"This is the best he's ever been and that's the best he's ever run at weight-for-age."

The 2008 Sydney Cup winner No Wine No Song, who has since suffered two tendon injuries, is also on target for his fourth crack at the Sydney Cup.

"It was a fabulous run," trainer Kevin Moses said.

- AAP