Since Richard Litt was granted a trainer's licence in December, Song And Laughter has continued to fly the flag for the stable
The contrast between Richard Litt and Godolphin could hardly be starker but Song And Laughter’s connections to the global racing giant could be key to giving Sydney’s youngest trainer his maiden victory.
The 27-year-old had been managing the stable while his father Jim returned to the family’s native New Zealand after the death of Richard’s brother Jay in 2015.
Since Richard Litt was granted a trainer’s licence in December, Song And Laughter has continued to fly the flag for the stable, running two metropolitan Saturday placings.
“Dad’s made the transition so easy and over the last 12 months he’s sort of prepped me for it,” Litt said.
“I took over a lot of the financial side and it’s been an easy transition because of him.
“He’s a pretty smart old man.”
Litt, who cut his teeth working with now Godolphin trainer John O’Shea, is hoping predicted rain will fall to help the seven-year-old give him his first winner in Saturday’s Rebecca Louise Handicap (1600m) at Randwick.
And linking up with in-form Godolphin jockey James Doyle can’t hurt either.
“He’s one of the best riders I’ve ever dealt with and ever seen ride in Sydney,” Litt said.
“I’m absolutely honoured to have him on to be honest.”
Doyle and O’Shea aren’t Song And Laughter’s only connections to Godolphin, with the mare’s persistent feet issues tended to by Sheikh Mohammed’s Sydney farrier Kerry Ireland.
Litt said Ireland and his apprentice Mitchell Beadman, a former jockey and son of champion rider Darren, who is O’Shea’s right-hand man, were the reason Song And Laughter was still racing.
“Kerry doesn’t do any outside work, he just looks after her for me which is unbelievable,” Litt said.
There are nine horses in work at the Warwick Farm stable with Litt relishing opportunity to train a small string in contrast to Godolphin which has more than 1100 in training across the world.
He is conscious of rewarding Song And Laughter’s loyal owner-breeders, the O’Gara family, by chasing Sydney’s lucrative prize money.
“We need a win and we need to pick up some prize money for the owners because that’s such an important thing,” Litt said.
“Third-up she’s trained on great so she should be ready to win at the mile.”
