Takedown on his way back from Hong Kong

Gary Moore says Takedown’s program towards an autumn goal will be rushed following his trip to Hong Kong but the trainer is optimistic he can get him ready.

Takedown arrives back in Melbourne on Monday after spending the previous two weeks in quarantine in Hong Kong.

He will undergo a further two weeks in quarantine in Melbourne after which he will spend a short time at Widden Stud which co-owns the four-year-old.

Takedown finished sixth behind Aerovelocity in the Hong Kong International Sprint at Sha Tin on December 11 after winning the Group One Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot in Perth on November 26.

Moore admits time will be tight to get Takedown primed for the Group One TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick on April 1.

“I think we’ll send him back to Widden Stud after he’s done his quarantine in Melbourne but it will be a fairly rushed preparation through to the TJ Smith,” Moore said.

“I’ve looked at the facilities in Melbourne and I was impressed.

“Michael Hawkes showed me where Chautauqua was this year when he came back.

“There’s big yards, good grass so whether we can count that as a spell, I don’t know.

“The TJ first-up looks the way we’re heading at the moment so maybe he’ll have a trial and then go into the TJ, but I want to see him back in Australia first.”

Moore has also signalled a return to Hong Kong for the Chairman’s Sprint Prize in May, the race won by Chautauqua earlier this year.