The Gary Moore trained Takedown looks likely to join Rebel Dane as the two Australian representatives to contest the Group 1 HK$18.5m Longines Hong Kong Sprint 1200m at Sha Tin on December 11.
Takedown, above, has been invited to run in the Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin in Hong Kong. Photo by Daniel Costello.
The Gary Portelli trained Rebel Dane was invited to Hong Kong after winning the Group 1 $1m Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 21 and was one of the fourteen original entries for the International Spring.
Moore was hoping a win in Saturday’s Group 1 $1m Crown Perth-Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot in Perth would influence the Hong Kong Jockey Club to issue an invitation but he was delighted when he got the call last night.
“I received the call last night around 8pm,” Moore told Racenet.
“The Hong Kong Jockey Club extended an invitation for Takedown and so I spoke with owner Antony Thompson about it.
“We were honoured to get the invite and we’ll make a decision after the Winterbottom. I’m hopeful we’ll go.”
While Takedown is yet to win at Group 1 level, his Spring Carnival form has been first class with two Group 2 wins and a Group 3 second from four race starts.
Takedown kicked off his Spring campaign with a win in the Group 2 $200,000 The Bowermans Office Furniture The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on September 17 followed by a win in the Group 2 $300,000 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on October 1.
Moore then took Takedown to Melbourne where he ran second to Voodoo Lad in the Group 3 $150,000 Ladbrokes Moonga Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on October 15 before running fifth to Rageese in the Group 3 $200,000 L’Oreal Paris Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on November 3.
Tim Clark rode Takedown in the Shorts and finds himself back on the four year old replacing Blake Shinn who has been aboard at his last three starts.
Takedown will jump from barrier eight in the twelve horse Winterbottom Stakes field and is rated a $9 chance with Ladbrokes.com.au who have last start Group 1 Darley Classic winner Malaguerra as the $3.20 favourite.
On the second line of betting is the Joe Pride trained Terravista at $3.40 while Rock Magic is the highest rated local sprinter at $8.
Hong Kong Sprint original entries: Aerovelocity, Lucky Bubbles, Peniaphobia, Not Listenin’tome, Amazing Kids, Big Arthur, Rebel Dane, Signs Of Blessing, Profitable, Red Falx, Strathmore, Growl, Pure Sensation, Super Jockey.
