Apprentice jockey Aaron Sweeney produced a classic understatement after riding Little Bitty to victory during Dubbo Turf Club’s Melbourne Cup meeting on Tuesday.

The four-year-old mare was making the first start of her career and that inexperience was evident as she threw Sweeney from the saddle in the mounting yard before the event had even begun and then produced an erratic run down the home straight in the Domain F&M Maiden Plate.

But despite all that her talent was obvious as Sweeney guided her to a three-length win.

“She travelled well throughout the race and was getting a bit keen early but I just had to peel her around the front ones and keep her at a nice, relaxed tempo,” he said.

“As we came up the straight she was always going to win, I thought, and she ran off the track a little but I just had to straighten her up and balance her and keep her right.”

The win was yet another for the Sweeney since making the move to the Brett Thompson stable at Gulgong.

Thompson wasn’t at Dubbo but the trainer would have been delighted to hear the news of the mare’s victory and another mature performance form Sweeney.

Little Bitty ($6) worked into the race well after jumping from barrier four behind early leaders and favourites Rehanaat ($2.80) and Jade Hue ($2.90).

As they hit the bend Little Bitty had made her way up towards the leaders and while she was well-placed in the straight she started drifting sideways.

Sweeney had his hands full correcting her but once he did she breezed past the leaders and past the post.

“Like I said, she’s probably not the easiest to ride and can be a bit erratic and you’ve got to be gentle with her but other than that she was good,” he said.

“She’s probably a horse that in a bit of time she might improve with age and win a few more races, I reckon.”

Rehanaat finished second while Splitting ($5.50) ran home well for Dubbo trainer Bob Caton.

The day finished as a stellar one for Sweeney as further wins on All For Kicks on Over In Killarney saw him finish with a hat-trick.

Both were for Dubbo trainer Garry Lunn, with All For Kicks ($2.20 favourite) taking out the Daily Liberal Class 2 Plate (1400m) while Over In Killarney took out the final event, the Western Magazine Benchmark 50 Handicap (1600m).

“Things are going good for me and I changed stables and am on loan to Brett and things are going well there so I’m happy,” he said.

“He’s a real nice fella and has a good stable of horses and good staff so I’m liking it and think I’ll stay for awhile.”

There was late success for Lunn with All For Kicks getting home ahead of stable mate Grandmaster Dash ($4.40) by one-and-three-quarter lengths.

Over In Killarney ($5) finished ahead of Dar Lunn’s Choclate Bolt ($6) with Garry again in the places with Basic Model ($2.10) third.