It was the third richest race on the Gosford stand-alone program but the Listed Takeover Target Stakes proved the most competitive with just half a length separating the first five horses across the line.
Former Godolphin gelding Barber ($8) was the one who got his head down when it mattered, out-bobbing Brudenell ($11) and the fast-finishing Spacewalk ($18) with Warnie (fourth) and Accredited (fifth) on their heels.
The winner didn’t have the most economical run after being exposed earlier than jockey Tyler Schiller would have liked but he showed fortitude to stick to his task right to the post.
“The pace came out and myself and Brudenell quickened up and just pulled ourselves to the front,” Schiller said.
“It was just a war from there. It was a ding-dong battle but glad to come out on top.”
A Group-winning two-year-old for Godolphin, Barber was purchased by syndicators Monarch Bloodstock at the Inglis December online sale.
His victory in Saturday’s Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) has earned him a trip to Queensland where he holds nominations for next weekend’s Doomben 10,000 (1200m) and next month’s Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).
Winning trainer Richard Litt admitted the race was a hard watch when Barber was caught wide from his awkward draw but he was thrilled to see the horse fight as gamely as he did.
“He’s a wonderful horse. He ran extremely well first-up at Canterbury and was probably a little bit unlucky,” Litt said.
“Today, I couldn’t watch when he was three-wide. I bowed my head and thought, oh well, what will be will be, and it was good to see him tough it out.”
Best known as the trainer of dual group 1 winner and now stallion Castelvecchio, Litt has enjoyed seasons of success with ex-Godolphin gallopers such as Morton’s Fork, Sedition and Huon.
With Barber now adding his name to that list, Litt is unlikely to be changing his strategy any time soon.
“They (Godolphin) are wonderful to buy off. You know what you’re getting, they’re great horses, James (Cummings) is a wonderful trainer and they have a great team,” he said.
“They’re very transparent and from my point of view I’m very lucky to be able to buy them.”
The $300,000 Takeover Target Stakes was one of three features on Saturday’s program with Les Vampires winning the Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) and Know Thyself taking out The Coast (1600m).
