Nikolic On The Take At Warwick Farm
Story By by Gary Crispe
Tuesday, 21 October 2008:  | | The Take |
The Paul Perry-trained sprinter looks well placed from the inside gate in the RB81 Handicap where he should be hard to hold out at the finish.
The Take has had just eight career starts for three wins and three minors.
He scored his maiden win over 1000m here in heavy ground at just his second start, then went for a spell before retuning with an 1100m win on the Kensington track at Randwick.
He then finished third over 1100m at Rosehill in heavy ground when leading until the final few strides, where he was beaten only a long neck.
Back on top of the ground and up to 1250m next time out at Canterbury, he returned to winning form after sitting off the leader throughout before wearing him down on the line.
At his final run of the campaign, when stepping up to 1400m for the first time at Rosehill, he turned in a career worst performance despite carrying a big weight, where he was third throughout before weakening right out of it in the straight.
Whether he was amiss or just didn't run the trip, he immediately went for a spell before returning over 900m in The Hurricane at Newcastle.
There he took a sit in third place and after suiting there off the lead throughout battled home well to finish third, beaten a length, behind Biscayne Bay.
He then tackled an 1150m welter on the Kensington track at Randwick and after sitting second throughout again battled away, finishing fifth and beaten three lengths behind Global Warming.
The Take drops back in class today, meeting a field rated several lengths easier, and also drops back to 1000m.
But from barrier one jockey Danny Nikolic should be able to settle him off the speed, as there should be blistering pace from a number of runners on his outside.
Although carrying a big weight with the nice run and some room in the straight he should be working home strongly.
Talented mare Moonboat seems to find one better all the time but looks well placed in this grade and should get her chance to break through again.
Last spring the Clarry Conners trained mare had just one start for a narrow third behind Sliding Cude in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes.
Fresh-up next time in she broke through for here maiden success over 1150m on the Kensington track before heading to Melbourne and finishing a narrow second behind Bundle O'Gold at Caulfield, beaten only a neck. The winner has since been sold to Hong Kong.
She then tackled the Listed Kevin Hayes Stakes over 1200m at Caulfield and was on the speed throughout. She had a bit of a tussle in the straight and dropped out to eighth, beaten 2.8 lengths, behind Absolut Glam who later went on to win in Group 1 grade.
Fresh-up after a long break she resumed here over the same track and distance and in this grade where she shared the pace and fought on well to finish third, beaten just over a length behind Agnus Dei.
This race is rated no tougher and she is fitter for her first run from a long spell.
She certainly has the ability and with even luck should be hard to beat again today.
Lightly-raced galloper Ledger is rarely far away and is fitter for one excellent run over 1250m at Canterbury where he powered home to finish a close-up third behind Clevergaze.
He drops back in journey this time and is likely to be run off his legs early but should be hitting the line hard again here at each-way odds.
I Am Invincible is resuming from over a year on the sidelines but has shown enough ability to be in the finish of this race.
He was a debut winner as a juvenile then finished third in the Kindergarten Stakes before running last in the Todman Stakes and went for a spell.
He then resumed with just one run when sixth behind Sliding Cube in the San Domenico Stakes.
That was around 14 months ago and he has his first start for the Hawkes stable today.
Motspur was well held last start at Newcastle but rates among the chances on his best form and can sneak into the placings at odds so might be worth including in the multiples.
|
