Add a bit of jam to your scone when talking about Taksu as a consistent performer in Sydney.
These were the thoughts of trainer Joe Pride, who also lauded the toughness of his six-year-old to hang on and win by the bob of a head in the Winter Stakes at Randwick.
The gelding led early and edged out the honest JoJo Was A Man, for John Thompson, in the 1400m sprint.
2022 Winter Stakes Replay
“He’s probably a bit more than bread and butter now – he’s probably got a bit of jam on there now, I’d think,” Pride told Sky Racing.
Taksu will now enjoy a well-earned break, Pride opting not to test him over 1500m.
“He’s tough, isn’t he? I think he’s been in work since about December, and he started racing in February,” the Warwick Farm trainer said.
“He’s a very tough horse. He’ll get a break now. I won’t bring him back for the 1500 in two weeks’ time.
“Not that I don’t think he’ll run 1500 – I thought he looked a bit more tired today and he didn’t quite have the speed.”
Pride was full of praise for the way jockey Glyn Schofield judged the 1400m trip to win in the fashion he did.
“He seems to rate them really well, doesn’t he? He did a fantastic job, and when you win by a margin like that you’ve got to consider that the horse has been rated really well,” he said.
“He did a great job and it was good to get another win for the connections. He’s had a fantastic preparation – his only bad run was up at Eagle Farm (10th in the BRC Sprint on May 28).
“He’s only a young horse. He’s still got a couple of seasons in him. I’m looking forward to having him next time around.”
Schofield said Taksu never panicked in the Heavy 9 conditions.
“He gave me a nice kick and I was able to race him a little better today. I’m not so sure that was a good thing because when he rolled out well on the dry ground last time (winning the Chandon Civic Stakes at Randwick on June 25) it was a nice flowing run up to the line,” he said.
“Whereas today he was a little more controlled. Because the ground was a bit more testing I just didn’t want to let him free-roll the whole way.
“But he did give me a nice kick. He paddled late today, which was surprising but he got the job done.”
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