Takedown overcomes setback to be fit for Doomben 10,000

Group 1 winning sprinter Takedown has recovered from a minor setback and is fit to take his place in the Group 1 $700,000 James Boag’s Premium Doomben 10000 (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday.

Takedown, above, has been cleared to run in the Doomben 10,000 at Doomben. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Takedown, above, has been cleared to run in the Doomben 10,000 at Doomben. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Trainer Gary Moore was forced to send Takedown to the paddock at Washpool Lodge at Aratula for a week after a scope of his throat found some mucus following two disappointing runs since returning from Hong Kong where he finished sixth to Aerovelocity in the Group 1 HK$18.5m Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on December 11.

Takedown was a well beaten first up eighth to Redzel in the Group 3 $150,000 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 15 followed by a fourth to last year’s Doomben 10,000 winner Music Magnate in the Group 2 $200,000 Ellyce Galvin Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm April 29.

Moore said that the Washpool Lodge staff under head man Kevin Thomas returned Takedown to the stable in great order and the four year old was all clear when scoped again on Monday.

“Kevin Thomas and his staff out there have done a good job with him. He has come back a brighter horse and we had him scoped again on Monday and it was all clear,” Moore told AAP.

“He was able to work strongly on Tuesday morning and his track work rider, who regularly rides him, was happy.”

“The other good thing is he is eating up properly. He is right to run in the 10,000 but where we go from there remains to be seen.”

“Maybe, it is a hangover from the trip to Hong Kong.”

“Look at Chautauqua who was flat after a couple of runs after coming back from Hong Kong but then won the TJ Smith brilliantly after a freshen up.”

Takedown earned a trip to Hong Kong after winning the Group 1 $1m Crown Perth-Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot during the 2016 Perth Summer Carnival.

Moore’s famous jockey father George Moore’s won the Doomben 10,000 a record five times and he would love to add the glamour sprint to his list of Group 1 wins.

Jockey Brenton Avdulla takes over from Tim Clark and has a tough task ahead of him after Takedown drew the outside barrier in the fifteen horse Doomben 10,000 field.

Takedown is marked at $18 for the Doomben 10,000 at Ladbrokes.com.au who have the three year old Russian Revolution as the $3.10 favourite.

The Bjorn Baker trained Music Magnate is the second pick at $6.50 ahead of the favourite’s stablemate Redzel at $7 and the consistent Fell Swoop at $8.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.