Charlotte Littlefield holds back tears as Colin McKenna galloper Modown wins VOBIS Gold Bullion at Pakenham

Modown posted a special win for trainer Charlotte Littlefield and made an instant profit for his new owners in the VOBIS Gold Bullion at Pakenham.

Modown (outside) finishes over the top of Oh Too Good to win the VOBIS Gold Bullion at Pakenham on Saturday. Picture: Scott Barbour/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Modown claimed an emotional VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) win on Saturday for Pakenham trainer Charlotte Littlefield.

The half-neck victory from fancied pair Running By and Oh Too Good was both sentimental for Littlefield and connections but also profitable for a group of new owners.

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A combined 25 per cent share – two 10 per cent holdings and a five – were offered for sale last month on Inglis Digital as part of the Halo Racing dispersal following the death of the late Colin McKenna.

The two 10 per cent shares fetched $18,000 apiece while the five per cent holding sold for $10,000.

Modown banked $122,250 with the win on Saturday including VOBIS bonuses.

“It’s a real shame that Col’s not here. Col McKenna was a big part of this horse, the reason why we didn’t sell him to Hong Kong, and getting Col involved brought another few really good owners into the stable and a few lucky owners have come on board now and taken those shares over,” Littlefield said.

“They’re tickled pink today because this horse has well and truly delivered and pretty much won that and more in one race.”

Favourite beaten!

Modown gets back on the winners list! 👏@[e-mail]/CBvtEa0rb4

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) December 21, 2024

Littlefield bred stakes-placed Modown, a three-time winner from 14 starts, and trained dam Miss Mo.

“I won’t take the glasses off because I’m a little bit emotional,” Littelfield said.

“This horse means so much to me. I thought it was such a good win, wasn’t it?

“He’s promised so much and he’s just failed to deliver a few times, but I knew he wasn’t quite right early on in the campaign.

“We sort of did a few things differently, gave him a little freshen up and look, I think he’s always shown to me that he’s been a 1400m horse.

“I doubted it a few times and I think the trick to him was getting him to jump from the barrier … we’ve been trying to do that the whole way through and he just keeps missing that kick.”

Oh Too Good led and looked a winner in the straight but relented as Modown emerged late.

Running By straightened within striking distance but could not bridge the gap five weeks between runs but the mare picked up again late to challenge the winner.

Jockey Craig Williams sealed an early double at Pakenham with wins on Divus Romulus and Modown.