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Litt keeping a lid on expectation for Profondo debut

3 minute read

It’s been a long wait for the debut of sale topping Deep Impact colt Profondo but trainer Richard Litt says the timing is right for him to be unveiled at Kensington on Wednesday.

Trainer: RICHARD LITT after, Morton's Fork winning the Christmas Cup
Trainer: RICHARD LITT after, Morton's Fork winning the Christmas Cup Picture: Racing and Sports

Richard Litt has done his best to treat the three-year-old like any other horse at home but he realises with a $1.9 million sale price, at Magic Millions in 2020, comes a high degree of interest, expectation and, after several impressive trial wins, some hype.

But Litt said he's prepared Profondo without pressure and exactly how he wanted to the point he's done everything he can to produce a first-up win.

"We're excited to kick him off, we've given him plenty of time and his trials have been good so everything seems well aligned,'' Litt said.

"Everything has fallen into place nicely, we're very happy but it's just like kicking off any horse.

"And he is like any other horse, he doesn't know his price tag. We have a system, a way we like to train, and he has fitted into that.

"There's been no pressure from anyone, he's very exciting but at the same time we're just trying to do our job and do it right. He has a little bit of hype because of his sale price but in general he is a lovely horse."

Profondo, out of Group 3 winner Honesty Prevails, has trialled four times in total. He first appeared back in April then won a Randwick heat on May 3.

He had a short winter break and he's won two trials on the synthetic at home, over 740m and 1175m, in August with a turn of foot over the short course that's been hard to miss.

Litt said he wanted to kick Profondo off in his comfort zone as he didn't want to see the horse scrubbed along chasing in a sprint race.

The 1st Crop Magna Grecia Foals Handicap (1400m) at Kensington fit that bill perfectly and punters seemed to agree supporting him from $4.20 on opening into $2.50 with TAB on Tuesday morning.

"It was important to me to kick him off in a maiden and over a distance I think he will be comfortable at,'' he said.

"I'd hate to see him out the back chasing, I think 1400m gives him the opportunity to balance up and go through his gears and hit the line.

"He's very well prepared, he's trialled up nicely, I feel like I've done my job well.

"I won't be nervous or anything like that because I know he is going there 100 per cent. It'll be up to the horse on the day. He could be anything, it's exciting but there's no expectation."

Robbie Dolan rides Profondo on Wednesday, as he's done in all four trials and a lot of his recent work, and the jockey is looking forward to seeing what he can do on race day.

"He was a bit keen in the trial the other day and it was a slow run trial on the polytrack, kickback was hitting him and he was a bit green,'' Dolan said.

"Now he's going on the grass he can switch off and hopefully come home.

"He is a horse that will get over ground, I don't know whether he's a stayer but he has a turn of foot when you click through his gears."

The Warwick Farm trainer, who prepared Castelvecchio to two Group 1 wins a couple of years ago, agrees with Dolan's assessment and is confident the colt will also excel at a mile and beyond.

"I think he is going to get over a bit of ground, be a real good genuine 2000m horse or further,'' he said.

"He's got the sharpness of his mother too I think. We're not going to put any pressure on him to be anything yet, he needs to come out and perform in his maiden then we can pick some nice races for him."

Litt will also be represented by Wander in the Earthlight @ Darley Handicap (1300m). He said the gelding, who resumed with an encouraging Midway placing, developed a foot abscess after his second-up run but hopes he's back to his best now.


Racing and Sports

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