Ardrossan 4YO Has Taken His Record Even Further

With the final race of the day at Caulfield on Saturday, the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr trained 4yo Ardrossan gelding Taken started the narrow second elect in the betting.

From his prior nine starts, the gelding had yet to finish outside of the frame with wins at his last four starts.

Not seen at the races since his last victory in June at Flemington, the gelding came into Saturday’s R.M.Williams Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield with a recent jumpout second under his belt.

Although jumping from barrier 3 in the 13-horse field, the Dewar Partnership bred Taken unfortunately found himself three wide, settling in seventh position with race leader Celsius ensuing a nice tempo.

One of the first to make a move, Taken found himself in a challenging position rounding the home turn, with jockey Ethan Brown asking for an effort and while it took a little to wind up, the son of Ardrossan put in a dive right on the line to record his fifth consecutive win.

“Very good,” Kent said. “Underdone, only had one trial, so we were concerned with fitness, and then he got close to three-wide, four-wide, so a very good win.

“He’s an unassuming customer. We were worried early on as to whether he would get a strong 1400m, but he just keeps strengthening, and to improve from three to four, you need to bulk up, and he definitely has.

“We knew he was going super, just with all the rain he missed a trial. They don’t usually win off one trial, but he’s a nice horse.

“He’s had a faultless campaign, really. The ceiling’s untapped. He likes a mile better, I think. Very good start to his preparation.

“No real plans, just to go through the ratings. I think he’ll probably go 1400m next start and then go a mile third up, but there’s no real plans for him.”

Taken is the first foal out of his unraced dam Katherine Wright who has visited Ardrossan in the two following season after foaling Taken. From an impressive international family of numerous Champions, Katherine Wright is a half-sister to the dam of Ardrossan’s Group 3 winner Beau Dazzler and the dual Listed placed Toretto.