Up-and-coming galloper Taken will take on proven Group 1 performers when he steps out in The Supernova at Pakenham.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained galloper will look to extend his winning streak to six when he lines-up in the second of Southside Racing’s two slot races on Saturday.
But it will not be an easy task for Taken who will be pitted against the likes of Here To Shock and Private Eye in the 1400m contest.
“It will be hard to beat Here To Shock and Private Eye at the weight scale, but we’ve got a progressive horse, and I know for one thing, he is a winner,” Kent Jnr said.
“He’s yet to miss a place in 10 starts, five wins and five placings, so he doesn’t like losing.”
Taken went on a four-win streak during late autumn and winter before returning with a win at Caulfield on November 15.
That was in a benchmark 84 grade race over 1400m with Ethan Brown in the saddle.
Kent Jnr conceded there were obstacles in front of Taken on Saturday, including remaining at 1400m for his second-up outing.
But with part-owner Carl Holt owning a slot in the race, it was a no-brainer to run Taken in his slot.
“We do think his best trip is a mile and Ethan thinks he may even get further,” Kent Jnr said.
“Carl Holt is a big player in the game. He has a lot of horses, a lot of luck in our stables and he’s got a slot and was very keen to run.
“It fits in nicely to his program. He has won his last five, so he had earned his shot and we’re four weeks from his win at Caulfield.
“He’s nice and fresh to stay at the 1400 (metres) and Pakenham is a beautiful track for him.”
With Taken going nicely through his grades, Kent Jnr does not know what level the galloper can reach.
“He was a relatively inexperienced find in New Zealand and I don’t know where his ceiling is,” Kent Jnr said.
“His wins at Flemington in the winter were quite impressive, but they were in moderate class and the fact that he came back and won first-up in open class suggests he might have gone to the next level.”
