3 minute read

Trainer and jockey quotes after Takumi wins the Benchmark 78 Dennis Hanrahan Handicap at Caulfield on Saturday.

Race Result:

1st: Takumi (A Purcell/J Allen) - $8.50
2nd: Influential Girl (Griffiths & M De Kock/L King) - $17
3rd: Hard 'N' Tough (S Wilde/D Thornton) - $18

Winning Time: 2:02.02 Last 600m: N/A

Margins: Long Head x ¾L

Takumi from the clouds! That was a big win to close the card at Caulfield. @APurcellRacing @MelbRacingClub

— Racing.com (@Racing) December 26, 2020

Winning Trainer: Aaron Purcell

"It wasn't a great race to watch. I thought the same thing was going to happen (as last start). Fortunately he got out in time and the horse showed a really good turn-of-foot when he got out. It was good to see him get to the line.

"The first preparation we were just learning about him. The second was going really good then he got a bit of a low-grade virus which put an end to that preparation midway through. This preparation has gone faultlessly. We've got a good handle on him now. I'm confident he's going to work through his grades."

2000 or more: "Probably. 2400 is probably not beyond him. He's run second over 2400 metres in the past. We'll stay in restricted grade." 

Winning Jockey: John Allen

"We had the nice run, we had the soft run. When one came up around us early I didn't want to get going that early. His last run he had a really good turn-of-foot so I thought that when I tracked the favourite he'd give a kick and give us a gap but there was just a wall (in front of us) when we straightened up.

"I just had to bide my time, get to the outside and to the horse's credit he really showed a good turn-of-foot when he got out there.

"He got past me one day, beat me, at Warrnambool so I knew he was a fairly useful horse. His last run at Moonee Valley he was unlucky. Even though he was up in grade with a light weight and he's progressive horse I was quietly confident that he'd go well."