Little is one of a number of leading Melbourne trainers in New Zealand for the upcoming sale at Karaka.Having her first start since the spring, Navagio came from back and wide in the field to take out the Doriemus Handicap (1100m) on Saturday.
Ridden by Michael Dee, Navagio ($11) scored a half-length win over the $2.70 favourite Jennifer Lynn with Unique Lovely ($61) 1-1/4 lengths away third.
Assistant trainer Matt Lindsay hopes Navagio can rise to black type level during the autumn.
"She's a nice filly and this was a little unexpected today," Lindsay said.
"This race came up a little soon and she was probably half a trial short so it's a bit of a bonus that she's won and we can now plan a program for her.
"I thought they would be a little speedy for her today but she was able to run over the top of them which was a nice bonus."
Lindsay said Little had plans to step Navagio up to a least 1600m during the autumn, but more importantly to try to claim some black type for her owner, former Victoria Racing Club chairman Rod Fitzroy.
Dee said he was expecting a good run from Navagio, but was surprised with the ease of her victory.
"The race turned out perfectly for us," Dee said.
"She relaxed beautifully. That was the key so she'll get further in the future."
Navagio, a daughter of promising young sire Zacinto, was purchased by Colin Little for $40,000 from the Inglewood Stud draft at the 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale.
"To get a winner at Flemington just before the sale is fantastic," said Gus Wigley, whose Inglewood Stud is home to the Dansili stallion Zacinto.
"We've got a three-quarter brother to Navagio selling in the Premier Sale, so it was a nicely timed win," he added, referring to lot 216, a Zacinto colt from I've Got Rhythm.
"It's really interesting, both the dam of Navagio and the dam of Ugo Foscolo have Canny Lad in the pedigree and I think that crosses really well with Zacinto.
"The stallion is going fantastic. He's obviously got a Guineas winner in Ugo Foscolo who is being aimed towards the Doncaster and he's got a lot of nice horses coming through," Wigley said.
