Takar

Takar produced a nice turn of foot to win the seven-furlong two-year-old maiden at Leopardstown on Sunday, and it was encouraging that he ran all to the line to win by eight lengths.

Settled on the inside through the early stages of the race, no better than ninth or 10th in the 18-runner field, Takar crept closer at the end of the back straight. He travelled really strongly around the home turn, but Johnny Murtagh just had to wait for a few strides early in the home straight and negotiate a passage between Place Vendome and Miley. As soon as he had squeezed through, Takar quickened away impressively, opening up a significant lead. Despite being eased from 100 yards out, he still won by eight lengths.

What he beat is open to question, but the other horses to have previously run promisingly finished third and fourth behind the newcomer Place Vendome in second, and the son of Oratorio clocked a good time, the second quickest of the day, just a fraction slower than that which Twirl, a sister to Misty For Me, recorded in the opening race, the fillies’ maiden over the same trip. Both were noteworthy times for juveniles carrying 9st on the easy ground.

Takar had stopped quite quickly at The Curragh on his only previous run having looked a big threat to the winner, his stablemate Call To Battle, a furlong out, but that was over a mile on easy ground which, judged by the impressive acceleration he showed here, probably wouldn’t have suited him at this stage of his career. It may have been that he had a breathing issue there, given that he wore a tongue tie here, and he was all the better for it. Interestingly Call To Battle won the listed nine-furlong two-year-old race on this same card, so he was up against some useful horses.

Takar’s dam, Takarouna, was a 10-furlong winner and a sister to the Dante winner Torjoun, and she has already produced several 10 and 12-furlong performers, as well as milers, so there may be even more to come from Takar with the tongue tie when he is stepped up in trip again next year, although clearly he is quite a pacy sort, so a mile could well be his trip. Trainer John Oxx said afterwards that they will start off in a listed race next year. He could be good enough to be a Guineas horse. He is an interesting horse for next season.

6th November 2011

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