Takedown led from start to finish to return to winning form in the 2016 Gold Coast Guineas this afternoon.
Takedown recorded his first race win for over a year with a strong front-running effort in the Gold Coast Guineas. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Takedown had not recorded a race win since he took out the Group 3 Schweppervescence Quality (1400m) as a three-year-old, but he was taken straight to the front by jockey Tim Clark and he dominated from start to finish.
The Stratum gelding has been the poster horse for the fledging stable of Gary Moore and the colourful trainer was clearly delighted to see his star galloper return to winning form in the Gold Coast Guineas.
Moore confirmed that Takedown will press on to the Group 3 Fred Best Classic (1350m) at Doomben on May 21 and he is hopeful that he can earn a start in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) by winning that race.
“It was very exciting,” Moore said.
“He is a great horse and he has been terrific horse for the stable.
“I would like to thank my son David.
“He has done a marvellous job in the past ten days with the horse and he has trained the horse in the past ten days.
“He will now go on to the Fred Best and there is improvement in him.
“I think that the 1350 will suit him because he will be able to lead, but he will travel a lot easier than he did today.
“Hopefully we can win it and we can be exempt for the Stradbroke, which Dad won a few times.”
Takedown failed to fire during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival, but he has been a new horse since he underwent a throat operation following his flat effort in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600n) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day.
He started his autumn campaign with a close second behind Redzel in the Listed Fireball Stakes (1100m) at Royal Randwick on March 5 and he finished a credible fourth in the Listed Darby Munro (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 19 before he was only narrowly denied by the talented Japonisme and Counterattack in the Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 9.
Arguably the best run in the race was Sold For Song, who absolutely savaged the line in the final stages of the race in what was just her fifth race start.
