Kuro has returning to winning form with a smart performance for success in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford Racecourse this afternoon.
Kuro (pictured winning in Brisbane) was too good for a smart field in this afternoon’s Takeover Target Stakes. Photo: Daniel Costello
Punters rallied around Kuro’s stable mate Ball Of Muscle in the hours leading up to jump this afternoon, and the multiple stakes winner appeared to be franking that trend when he flew the barriers and immediately took up a soft lead, while jockey Josh Parr took a sit on the eventual winner.
Ball Of Muscle led the field into the final straight and the Takeover Target results already appeared to be decided, until Kuro produced a big turn of foot to storm home down the outside of the pack and secure his second black type win this time; having taken out the Listed Starlight Stakes (1100m) on December 3rd.
Trainer Joe Pride was pleased with the Denman gelding’s performance to win the Takeover Target Stakes and thought that there was merit to Ball Of Muscle’s run.
“I thought he might have had it on the corner Ball Of Muscle, but it has been a bit of his pattern recently, he just doesn’t find the line,” Pride said.
“I thought his run was credible, they’ve run a pretty good time but Kuro was really strong through the line and generally those horses win the race.
“He had a wet track last start and I should have run him. I got caught up running the horse again because he was going well but he doesn’t handle wet tracks.
“He’s a dry track horse and he’s a pretty fair dry track horse as well.”
The Kim Waugh-trained His Majesty flew home late to finish second in the Takeover Target Stakes, while a tiring Ball Of Muscle was lucky to bob his head at the right time to finish third ahead of Supreme Effort.
