Three-year-old gelding Taken is proving quite the money spinner for connections, with a victory in Saturday’s Rod Johnson Handicap (1620m) at Flemington the fourth in succession for the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained galloper.
The son of Ardrossan carried 60kg topweight under rider Craig Williams, but his push-button style and ability to race on-speed are attributes that go a long way towards winning, as he made it successive wins at Flemington.
“He was obviously less dominant than last start but carried a lot more weight and he is deep into a campaign, so you are always wondering when the end is,” Kent Jnr said.
“It is so hard to win a race at Flemington, let alone two on the bounce, so it’s a credit to the team at home.
“Whether he has one more run, we will just have a look, but he has done a really good job.
“He is very tough, very sound and very clean-winded with a fantastic racing style. Any horse that can roll forward in a relaxed manner, drop the bit, conserve energy and then find off the bridle, it’s a great way to win races.”
Taken, who races for a syndicate in the colours of prominent owner Carl Holt, has options to step up in distance whether that be in the coming weeks or next preparation.
“I think he is a nice horse to go through the grades with,” Kent Jnr said. “We have all spoken about going to ten furlongs at some point in his career and that would open some more doors.
“I’d say he deserves a spell at the right time and I wouldn’t be short-cycling into a deep spring campaign. He has got it all ahead of him. He is an immature horse that will be even better next autumn.
“For today, we will go to the winner’s room and have a beer and a champagne.”
Originally prepared in New Zealand by Sam Mynott, Taken was sold to the Price-Kent stable following a trial win at Tauranga.
By Waikato Stud’s emerging young sire Ardrossan, Taken is out of the Henrythenavigator mare Katherine Wright and stems from the same family as Ardrossan’s Group Three winner Beau Dazzler.
Taken was bred by the Dewar Partnership, which was put together to support Ardrossan when he launched at stud by some people who raced the Group One performed son of Redoute’s Choice.
The Dewar Partnership is managed and part-owned by Bruce Perry with Lib Petagna the majority supporter along with Max Brown, Tony Joyce and Dave and Nicki Wilson. – NZ Racing Desk
