A plan hatched three months ago by trainer Reg Rowley came to fruition at the Gold Coat when A Little Knowledge shed her maiden status in profitable style.Having her 11th career start, A Little Knowledge upstaged her more fancied rivals when she ploughed through the slushy conditions for a slugging win in Saturday's $100,000 Starcraft Handicap (2200m).Bernadette Payne on A Little Knowledge ($11) followed Corey Brown on Tunes of Gold ($3.50 fav) all the way and her gamble to cut the turn proved d
A plan hatched three months ago by trainer Reg Rowley came to fruition at the Gold Coat when A Little Knowledge shed her maiden status in profitable style.
Having her 11th career start, A Little Knowledge upstaged her more fancied rivals when she ploughed through the slushy conditions for a slugging win in Saturday's $100,000 Starcraft Handicap (2200m).
Bernadette Payne on A Little Knowledge ($11) followed Corey Brown on Tunes of Gold ($3.50 fav) all the way and her gamble to cut the turn proved decisive with the pair holding on to win by three-quarters of a length.
The Howard Wilson-trained Bentley Blue ($19) made his move with A Little Knowledge at the 600m but weakened on his run to finish a widening five lengths behind the winner.
Rowley set A Little Knowledge for the feature before the start of her current preparation and he said the Dangerous filly would be spelled immediately and aimed towards the QTC Oaks at Eagle Farm during the winter.
"She has always indicated she would stay and I picked this race out for her months ago. It's always nice when the plan comes to fruition," Rowley said.
"I was a bit concerned when the rain came but they all had to get through it and my filly proved she could stay today.
"I'll turn her out straight away and bring her back and set her for the Oaks."
Brown offered no excuses for Tunes of Gold but he did say he would have liked another horse to cart into him into the race rounding the turn.
"She was still travelling at the 250 metres and I hadn't gone for her then but it's still a long way out to get to the front," Brown said.
"I was waiting for something to cart me up but they were all struggling in the conditions and I had to go forward when I did. I think she'll be a better chaser."
Rowley may have flown under the radar thus far but punters will take more notice of him in future.
He moved his small string to the Gold Coast in 2007 but returned to his home town of Port Macquarie last year before he coming back to the Gold Coast six months ago.
"I've only got five in work but that's the way I like it. I can give them plenty of personal attention that way," Rowley said.