Trainer Danny O'Brien is looking to richer city races over the summer following the win of De Little Engine at Ballarat.

Da Little Engine showed staying promise when he raced away from his opposition in the People @ Work Handicap (2300m) to win by 4-3/4 lengths.

Jockey Chad Schofield had the four-year-old well positioned in the run and when he asked the son of Encosta De Lago for an effort he sprinted quickly to put the race beyond doubt.

O'Brien said De Little Engine, raced in the same colours as retired stable stars Shamrocker and Shamexpress, was purchased as a "very small weanling" and had been a long-term project.

"There's some nice progressive races for him," O'Brien said.

The $150,000 Bagot Handicap is run over 2800m at Flemington on January 1 is one race O'Brien is keen to target.

Schofield said De Little Engine's win was that of an up-and-coming young stayer.

"He travelled well on a hot speed and when I asked him to go he went and he was running full of gusto to the line," Schofield said.

Stephen Baster celebrated his 40th birthday when I Love It took scored a half-length win in the Easy Waste Plate (1200m) for Caulfield trainer John Salanitri.

Baster said I Love It had no luck when resuming from a break at Caulfield in Listed company on October 18 and admitted he may have been lucky to retain the ride.

"It's good the boys kept me on her and she's repaid them with the win," Baster said.

Baster said the four-year-old daughter of Artie Schiller would keep improving because when she hit the front she started to stargaze.

The jockey made it a race-to-race double when Magnus Effect won the Eureka Concrete Handicap (1400m).