By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
Take After Me showed he can still be more than competitive in his history-making 400th start at Ashburton yesterday.
The 14-year-old, affectionately known as ‘Rocky’, became the first ever standardbred to reach the mark and he did it in style with a gutsy third placing in the Matt Smith Construction Trot, just over a length away from the winner.
In the words of commentator Andy McCook he “ran an absolute beauty”.
For Take After Me’s connections it was a proud moment.
“That was a bit exciting wasn’t it?”‘ trainer Fred Scott told Harness Unhinged’s Nigel Armstrong post race.
“He’s been a wonderful horse,” added wife and co-breeder Jan Scott, “he’s been a privilege to own.”
Take After Me stepped cleanly for driver John Morrison and settled three back the fence before producing a determined finish behind the pace-making Prince Teka and favourite Randel Huston P.
“He felt really good, really sharp,” said Morrison.
The son of Holmes Hanover has now had 124 starts as a pacer for four wins and 17 wins and 276 starts as a trotter. As well as his 21 wins he’s also placed 93 times. His career stakes earnings are just over $300,000. Alexy with 347 starts and Danke with 300 are the only standardbreds in this country to have gone anywhere near Take After Me’s record.
Scott took over the training of Take After Me as his son and regular trainer Glenn battled cancer. He died in 2021.
A week later Take After Me won at Methven. At the time Fred and Jan described it as “so special”.
As a pacer Take After Me was good enough to compete in the 4YO Emerald at the 2015 Harness Jewels and was second to Johnny Eyre in the 2016 Reefton Cup while as a trotter Fred Scott is particularly proud that his horse finished second to one of the very best in Oscar Bonavena at Ashburton in 2019.
Before the 400th start Fred Scott thought that win or lose that retirement was not too far away for his dual gaited veteran.
While he was non-committal about that post race Jan was more forthright.
“I think that should be it today. He’s done his time and he deserves to retire now.”
