When Taksu arrived on Joe Pride’s doorstep, he was struggling to win at midweek level in Victoria and the trainer never imagined the horse might develop into a dual stakes performer.
But the tough gelding has done just that, surviving a protest from runner-up Jojo Was A Man to add Saturday’s Listed Winter Stakes (1400m) at Randwick to his Civic Stakes win over the same track and distance last month.
By Equiano and a half-brother to Group 1 winner Srikandi, Taksu has won five of his 13 starts since joining Pride’s yard 12 months ago, developing into a great money-spinner for connections.
“He is probably a bit more than bread and butter now. He has probably got a bit of jam on there,” Pride said.
“This is his second full prep (for the stable) and he has been good. He just keeps turning up with great performances.
“I don’t know much about the stallion, but he is a half to Srikandi and that carries him a long way.”
Taksu ($5.50) kicked off his current campaign in February, his only failure coming at Eagle Farm in May when he didn’t handle the track.
The rising seven-year-old took time to muster speed on Saturday but eventually found the front and despite a concerted challenge from Jojo Was A Man ($4), he clung to victory by a short head, with Chief Altony ($3.40 fav) another 2-1/2 lengths away.
Reece Jones on the runner-up fired in a protest, alleging Glyn Schofield allowed Taksu to shift out in the straight and take his rightful running, forcing him to change course back to the inside.
But the objection was quickly dismissed with stewards deeming the second placegetter laid in of his own accord.
Schofield wasn’t certain Taksu had held on when Jojo Was A Man dived late, but said the gelding did a tremendous job to back up from a peak performance last start.
“I felt in his prelim, he wasn’t as sparky as he was the other day and Joe said, ‘he’s on a two-week back-up off a personal best’,” Schofield said.
“He normally spaces his runs about a month between but still, another fantastic effort and stakes races back-to-back.”
Pride confirmed Taksu would be sent for a well-earned spell.