By MIKE DILLON
Last week he looked like the milkman's horse. Tomorrow Little Bro stands out as a great bet in the $20,000 Trapiche Wines Prime Minister's Hurdles at Ellerslie.
The dashing Takanini jumper was the first beaten in the Dunstan Waikato Hurdles last week, but tomorrow's race is about as far removed from that as you can get.
The distance is 440m shorter, but much more important, the footing will be more like racing on an airport runway than last week's Waikato paddock.
Late yesterday the Ellerslie track was bordering on firm, something that filled trainer Blake Naden with enthusiasm.
At Te Rapa, Naden watched Little Bro drop rider Wayne Hillis late in the race, but the horse was well beaten at the time.
"The track was right against him. He's too brilliant for that sort of heavy, sticky footing.
"I know he was starting to drop off a fair way out, but it wasn't the distance, it was the ground. This week's race suits him much better."
Little Bro will be ridden this time by relatively inexperienced Jason Peake, who scored his first totalisator win on the horse at Counties on April 12.
Wayne Hillis is committed to Limerick Lad, his mount for next week's TV Guide Hurdles, a race Little Bro will miss.
"The Northern (TV Guide) is too far for him. He's not experienced enough for it, he's had only the seven jumping races. Next year perhaps."
Naden had a full bank of tests done on Little Bro after last week's race, and they came out perfect.
"He has worked well this week, too."
Kings Court has not had a hurdle race since last winter, but could be the danger.
He looks very promising and with 60.5kg poses a big threat.
He will be ridden by Irishman Finbar Leahy, who scored his first New Zealand win aboard Fair Brother at Counties on Wednesday.
At acceptance time the field for tomorrow's $35,000 Lanvin Champagne Stakes looked extremely difficult to tip - when they did the barrier draw it became impossible.
Four of the five top tips have drawn at No 10 or wider at the 1200m barrier.
Perhaps the safest of them may be Serevi from No 10, who made a stylish winning debut at Avondale two weeks ago.
But he lacks experience, and this might finally provide a winning chance to Singalong, the only one of the major fancies to have had luck in the barrier draw.
Singalong tends to get back early and run on strongly.
While the 1200m might prove a fraction short in a big field. she should get a perfect trip.
The barriers draw has made it a raffle for many of the runners, but one to watch could be Senor Luro, who looked an improver when third at Hastings on debut.
Racing: The real Little Bro will show
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