Takedown secures early flight for Hong Kong

Takedown is due to fly out to Hong Kong from Melbourne tonight after pulling up in great order following his win in the Group 1 $1m Crown Perth-Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot in Perth last Saturday.

Takedown will fly out from Melbourne to run in the Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin. Photo by Steve Hart.

Takedown will fly out from Melbourne to run in the Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin. Photo by Steve Hart.

Trainer Gary Moore has reported that all systems are go for Takedown to compete in the Group 1 HK$18.5m Longines Hong Kong Sprint 1200m at Sha Tin on December 11 along with fellow Australian sprinter Rebel Dane.

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 while Moore only received Takedown’s call up in the week leading up to the Winterbottom Stakes before he claimed his first Group 1 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 did some light work in his short stopover in Melbourne and showed no worrying signs following his tough win in the Winterbottom Stakes.

“He settled in well into Danny O’Brien stables at Melbourne and he did some work at Flemington this morning over six furlongs and was very strong so the signs are very good with him,” Moore told racing.com.

“He’s due to fly out of Melbourne to Hong Kong around 6.30pm tonight and that will give me 10 days to put the weight back on him that he’ll lose in the flight.

“It will be about a 10-hour flight into Hong Kong but all the arrangements are in place for him and I don’t expect any problems at all.

“We try and put a little more weight on the horses before they fly out so it’s not so hard for them to regain once they have landed.”

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.

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.

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.