Imported New Zealand mare Miss Take took her promising career to a new level in Saturday’s A$80,000 Happy 50th Jeff Waters Handicap (1200m) at The Valley.
The daughter of Inglewood Stud stallion War Decree has now had six starts for three wins and a placing, earning more than A$80,000 for an ownership group headed by Manoj Wanzare.
A debut winner in New Zealand in August of 2022 and successful in Benchmark 64 company at Sale just under a year later, the four-year-old mastered the step up to metropolitan class on Saturday.
Ridden by Luke Currie for trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman, Miss Take settled near the tail of the field before creeping closer and looming large behind the leaders at the home turn.
Currie found a narrow opening two off the rail and drove Miss Take through. The talented mare quickened smartly and timed her run to perfection to prevail in a three-way photo finish.
“She was good,” Currie said. “She didn’t jump that cleanly. Sam said that she had speed, but since she was first-up today they’d be happy to give her a bit of cover.
“She put herself there, three back on the fence, and she was always travelling. I just had to wait for an opening, and when a run did come, she quickened really well.
“Her form is good, and being first-up today, I’m sure she’ll improve. She was a bit hot in the yard. Having this run under her belt will do her good. The turn of foot that she has will definitely help her go on from here.”
The Freedman stable was represented at The Valley on Saturday by racing manager Brad Taylor.
“We’ve learned a lot about this mare in the time that we’ve had her,” he said. “She was a three-year-old when we first got her and was still a little weak. She’s certainly grown and developed a lot. She’s a much bigger and stronger mare now.
“Credit to Andy Williams, who found her in New Zealand off a trial and gave her a couple of starts there before sending her over. It probably didn’t work out as well as we would have liked in her first prep here, but she’s returned well today and she has really good improvement to come.
“When the gap appeared today, she showed a very good turn of foot, which we knew she had in New Zealand.”
Miss Take is out of the Pins mare Skite, who is the dam of six winners including Group Three winner Timy Tyler and Listed winner Waldorf.
Miss Take began her career in the Riccarton stable of Terri Rae, winning two trials before romping to a nine-length victory on debut. She then finished fourth in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m).