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A trip to Hong Kong could be the reward for Takedown if the Gary Moore-trained sprinter can win Saturday’s $1 million Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot.
Last start Manikato Stakes winner Rebel Dane has already been selected to represent Australia, topping of his preparation with a barrier trial win at Rosehill on Tuesday morning.
Moore said he understands Hong Kong Jockey Club officials will be watching the Winterbottom Stakes with interest as they are keen to boost the number of international runners in the HK Sprint.The G1 winners Malaguerra and Terravista head the Winterbottom Stakes betting but their connections have indicated they would not be taking up a Hong Kong invite, unlike Moore who is extra keen to return to the city where he was once the champion jockey and his family is revered racing royalty.
Moore said he hopes the HKJC contacts him before the weekend with an invite pending his Winterbottom Stakes performance.“It’s a tough to go to Hong Kong after Perth but if he gets an invite we’ll see what happens,’’ Moore said.
Moore has been pleased with Takedown’s progress since he arrived in Perth last week after showing form at the Sydney and Melbourne carnivals.Takedown won the G2 Shorts (1100m) and the G2 Premiere Stakes Stakes at Randwick before heading to Melbourne where he finished an unlucky second in the G3 Moonga Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield before his last start fifth in the G3 L’Oreal Paris Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
Tim Clark, one of Sydney’s current form jockeys with a record of two wins and two placings from four rides on Takedown, will be riding in Perth for the first time when he takes the mount on the four-year-old on Saturday.