Charlotte Littlefield concedes the Summoned Stakes was not high on her priority list with Concord Connie coming into spring, but the $200,000 Group 3 was too good an opportunity to pass up.
Littlefield’s stable star will have her final run for the campaign in Saturday’s 1500-metre event at Sandown.
Concord Connie is Group 1-placed, thanks to finishing runner-up to Lady Shenandoah in the Empire Rose Stakes, but she remains a Black Type maiden and Littlefield said the Summoned Stakes emerged as an obvious target once she bounced out of the Flemington run.
“We went in (to spring) with the three runs in mind with the Empire Rose being the Grand Final and then she came through that race so well,” Littlefield said.
“She certainly gave us every indication that she had thrived since that run and was only improving, so it seemed a complete waste for her to be in the paddock.
“We’ve got some lofty ambitions for the autumn, but we would just love to try and get that win on her CV in Group company first.”
The Empire Rose effort followed a fine third placing in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes, when not suited by the track pattern, which followed a first-up second placing at Mornington on AFL Grand Final Day.
They are among four minor placings from seven starts with her three wins coming in a Pakenham maiden and two 1400m 3YO events at Flemington in autumn.
Champion jockey Craig Williams was aboard the daughter of Contributer for the first time in the Empire Rose Stakes, but has been a confidant of Littlefield since her early days as a trainer and the Englishwoman was buoyed by his suggestion that Concord Connie has another run in her.
“Craig’s been sensational. He’s won all these races multiple times, he’s one of our leading jockeys, not only in the country, but worldwide, and he’s just so good to have on the team,” Littlefield said.
“You know he’s done his homework, you know that he’s very thorough with all of his race analysis and he knows what the top horses feel like.
“So, for him to get off and say, ‘she’s a very exciting horse, I really love her and I think she’s definitely Group 1 quality, I think you should carry on and go for another race start’, was good to hear.”
Williams has a wide gate to overcome, with Concord Connie into gate 11 of 13 following the early scratching of Davida, but Littlefield couldn’t be happier with her condition.
“Obviously we’re coming back 100 metres, but I think that’s fine,” she said.
“She’s nice and fresh and well. I’ve given her one nice gallop in between, she’s been to the beach and the water walker and will just have a few quiet days leading into the race and I think she’ll be firing on all cylinders.
“We’ve drawn a tricky gate again, but hopefully we can get it done with Craig on board.”
Concord Connie is the shortest-priced favourite on the Sandown card, a $1.70 chance for what is the final event on Victoria’s final Group 1 raceday of spring.
