Trainer Jason Coyle is confident that Takewing is a genuine winning chance in the 2014 Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm this weekend.
Blake Shinn has been booked to ride Takewing in the 2014 Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Photo by:
Takewing made his racing debut in November last year and has recorded just one race win, taking out the More Than Ready Handicap (1550m) at the Randwick Kensington track on April 16, but Coyle told Racing Ahead that he has been happy with the Queensland Derby lead-up form of the Sebring colt in the Group 3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m), Rexel Handicap (1900m) and Sportsyear Handicap (2000m).
“He hasn’t been disgraced his last two,” Coyle said.
“I think he got beaten about six lengths by Pinstripe Lane there and that is the day that he came out of the barriers and after about 100 metres he decided he wanted to buck, so the fact that he has only finished six lengths off the winner and the second Queensland Derby favourite has him well and truly in the race.
“He has been working great, he looks terrific and he has been set for this from a long way out.
“Blinkers go on and we are definitely going up there as a genuine chance I think.”
Takewing will be stepping up to 2400 metres for the first time in his racing career in the Queensland Derby this weekend, but Coyle is confident that the three-year-old will have no problems running out the testing staying trip.
Coyle said that he took confidence from Criterion’s win in the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Royal Randwick on April 12 and feels that Takewing gives every indication that he will appreciate the step-up in trip.
“He has always been a horse that has wanted to get up over ten furlongs and further,” Coyle said.
“It was nice to see David Payne’s horse (Criterion) win the Derby in Sydney because it showed that the Sebring’s can get a trip.
“With him indicating the whole way along, I am going up there with confidence that he will definitely run the trip.”
Takewing is currently available at 2014 Queensland Derby odds of $34, while Vilanova ($4.50) remains a narrow favourite from Elusive Runner ($5), Pinstripe Lane ($5), Telepathic ($8) and Amexed ($9).
Coyle was hoping to have two runners at Group 1 level at Eagle Farm on Saturday, but Scream Machine is unlikely to receive a start in the Stradbroke Handicap after being named fifth emergency.
