Former Kiwi galloper Desperado lived up to his name when he produced a desperate finish to take out the Robert Taranto Handicap (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Initially prepared in New Zealand by Brian and Shane Anderton where he was successful in his fourth of five starts, the now six-year-old son of Ghibellines was purchased by a group of Australian and Kiwi owners that includes many of the same names who were involved in another former Anderton runner in Ablaze who numbered the 2019 Jericho Cup (2600m) and 2020 Australian Grand National Hurdle (4200m) amongst his 14 career victories after being purchased out of New Zealand in similar fashion.

Desperado transferred to the leading Victorian stable of Ciaron Maher in late 2022 where he had won a further two races before his gritty victory on Saturday.

Rider Ben Allen settled him well back in the nine-horse field before looping around runners approaching the home bend to issue his challenge. In a desperate struggle with eventual runner-up and stablemate Berkshire Breeze, Desperado thrust his head in front where it counted and took the victory by a neck at the line.

Anderton has retained a share in the horse and got a great kick out of watching the victory as he recalled how difficult the horse was in the early days.

“I bred him and he was a difficult horse early on, he just wanted to fight you at every turn,” Anderton said.

“If you put your hand on him, he thought it was an electric shock so we were worried how we would shoe him and the like, but he was fine with that and was like a lamb when you rode him.

“He had a handful of starts for us and my son-in-law Wayne (Stewart) arranged a sale to the group who race him now although I retained a share in him.”

While Desperado has looked good on the flat, Anderon believes his future lies over the fences in Australia.

“By the look of it Ciaron will keep him going on the flat awhile longer but he qualified for his jumping ticket the other day so he will go over the fences during this prep,” he said.

“I did get a great thrill out of the win as he is from a family we have had for many years.

“He is out of a Yamanin Vital mare (Carefree) and they are a fantastic cross with Ghibellines however we are starting to run out of them.”

Bred and raced by Anderton and his late wife Lorraine before being sold to his Australian owners, Desperado has now won four of his 14 starts and over A$145,000 in prizemoney.