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Ball Of Muscle has set a new track record in taking out the Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford on Friday.

The Joe Pride-trained was brave in holding off That’s A Good Idea and Territory for a slender success.

“It was an exciting race and thankfully we came out on top,” Pride said.

“It was a good, tough win. My bloke was just too big and too strong.

Known as a bold frontrunner for the most part, jockey Glyn Schofield found himself third in transit behind Barbed and Howmuchdoyouloveme.

The Dubawi gelding was dropped momentarily around the turn however rallied bravely for a half head success and set a new track record for the Gosford 1200m in the process..

“I was aware Brenton [Avdulla] being on Howmuchdoyouloveme who is such a big horse wouldn’t want to get muddled up,” Schofield said.

“I wanted to jump up and possie up outside of him because I knew he was going to make the race genuine.

“Once he got there we seemed to settle down. When Hugh worked up around me I knew I had something to chase and I know that That’s A Good Idea is tough and a hard horse to get past, I only just managed to get past him.

It was Ball Of Muscle’s seventh career win from ten starts and also his second over 1200m.

Venturing out to the longer sprint trip won’t be a future scenario for the gelding with both trainer and jockey harbouring questions on his ability beyond 1200m.

“He is a high class horse but he just fell in,” Schofield said.

“At this stage of his career 1200m is probably his limitation.

“All credit to my horse, Joe and his team. He has brought him back from a defeat to come back and reclaim his honour.”

It was a feature race to race double for Schofield who won aboard Mamwaazel in the Group 3 Belle Of The Turf Stakes (1600m).