Victory in Saturday’s A$130,000 Remembering Diatribe Handicap (2000m) at Caulfield capped a consistent run of form for Taka Speed, and the New Zealand-bred gelding also passed an important stamina test.
Previously a four-time winner between 1400m and 1800m, the Savabeel gelding had attempted 2000m only once before in his career and had finished at the tail of the field.
But trainer Matt Laurie remained confident Taka Speed had the stamina for a middle-distance. After a solid run of winter performances to finish fifth over 1600m at Flemington, fourth over 1600m at Randwick, fourth over 1700m at Caulfield and second over 1800m at Sandown, Saturday was the time to try again.
The five-year-old was ridden by Daniel Stackhouse and finished strongly out of midfield, overhauling Lincoln Rocks and the front-running Amleto through the last 150m to score by half a length.
“With a big field, I thought they might run the race at good speed today,” Stackhouse said. “They definitely did that going into the first corner. I didn’t quite have the tactical early speed to go with them, but I was able to come back and get a lovely run in transit. He switched off beautifully.
“He’s been knocking on the door, so a win like this is great for him.”
With Laurie in France for the Arqana sale at Deauville, he was represented at Caufield on Saturday by his wife Kate.
“We were excited to get this horse back up over 2000m,” she said. “He’s a horse we always thought would stay, but we just hadn’t really made it out to that distance, and when we did try him at 2000m, he had to lead.
“He did a great job today, with a fabulous ride by ‘Stacky’. He managed to find a position and get the horse to settle. It was very good to see.”
Taka Speed has now had 15 starts for five wins, two placings and A$200,225 in prize-money.
Taka Speed was bred by Dalanna Bloodstock Pty Ltd & J E Abrahams Pty Ltd and is by the legendary Savabeel out of the Toorak Toff mare Toffee Nose. A two-race winner over 1200m and 2000m, Toffee Nose also finished second in the Gr.3 Alexandra Stakes (1600m) and fourth in the Gr.2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m).
Offered by Curraghmore during the 2023 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, Taka Speed was bought by Pierre Ng for $300,000.
Since producing Taka Speed in 2021, Toffee Nose has foaled a filly by Ocean Park (a three-year-old named Piko Blossom), a filly by Proisir and a colt by Ocean Park. – NZ Racing Desk.
