Australia’s latest Group 1 winner Takedown has arrived safely in Hong Kong ahead of the Group 1 HK$18.5m Longines Hong Kong Sprint 1200m at Sha Tin on December 11.
Takedown, above, has arrived safely in Hong Kong ahead of the Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Takedown flew out of Melbourne on Tuesday and arrived in Hong Kong on Wednesday and has a week and a half to settle into his new surroundings.
The Gary Moore trained four year old joined the elite list of Group 1 winners when he scored a tough win in the $1m Crown Perth-Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot in Perth on November 26.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club issued Moore with an invitation for the Hong Kong Sprint during the week leading up to the Winterbottom Stakes and the former top jockey was glad that Takedown was able to justify their faith in him.
’I’m not only feeling so happy for the horse, who really deserves this win, but also for the Hong Kong Jockey Club as they invited him over as a group 2 winner and now we’re going there a group 1 winner,” Moore told racing.com.
‘’I’m going with plenty of confidence. I’m pretty sure I can beat the local sprinters and if we get a good draw, I think he can win.’’
Takedown’s best winning efforts when Moore received the invitation were two Group 2 wins at the beginning of the 2016 Spring Carnival with wins in the Group 2 $200,000 The Bowermans Office Furniture The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on September 17 and in the Group 2 $300,000 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on October 1.
Takedown is listed as a $10 chance for the Hong Kong Sprint with Ladbrokes.com.au who have Japanese sprinters Big Arthur and Red Falx along with top local contender Lucky Bubbles as the joint $4.60 favourites while Australia’s other contender Rebel Dane is listed as a $19 chance.
The Gary Portelli trained Rebel Dane received an invitation form the Hong Kong Jockey Club after he won the Group 1 $1m Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 21.
Early market order for the Hong Kong Sprint at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.60 Big Arthur, Lucky Bubbles, Red Falx, $8.50 Aerovelocity, $9 Not Listenin’tome, $10 Takedown, $11 Amazing Kids, $16 Pure Sensation, $19 Peniaphobia, Rebel Dane, $21 Signs Of Blessing, $41 Strathmore, $51 Growl, Super Jockey.
