FORMER COX PLATE TRAINER RETIRES

Colin Little to retire from training

A series of issues and bad luck has brought an end to the training career of Colin Little after he and training partner Matt Lindsay were left with no way to continue there Pakenham training base.

Little confirmed that he saw the end of his career in site when the Caulfield training facility was closed.

“Once they closed Caulfield, my demise was on the horizon,” Little said.

“One staff member fell over and broke a vertebrae in his back so we were left with only Matt and the work rider.

“Matt got off a horse the other day and just laid down on the ground and said, ‘I can’t do it’ and he couldn’t move.

“He’s barely able to walk now 10 days after. He’s going to need surgery next week.

“We didn’t have any option but to relocate the horses because we couldn’t work them.

“Within two days, we had relocated them and that’s the end of Colin Little.”

Little confirmed his multiple time Flemington winner Vassilator will resume this week for new trainer Lisa Jones.

“I’ve still got a few interests in a few horses like Vassilator and a few others,” Little said.

“Maybe I’ll be able to play a bit more golf.

“It’s early days and I’m a bit tired. I’ll have a few months off and see what to do with myself after that.”

Little retires having won the Cox Plate in 2007 when his runner El Segundo took out the Moonee Valley feature before continuing to win 12 from 35 starts.

Little won The BMW (now Tancred Stakes) in 2007 with Blutigeroo while his grand stayer Ista Kareem won the Sydney Cup in 2009.

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