A maiden going into the race, the Peter and Paul Snowden trained colt emerged a winner, producing a tenacious effort in the run to the line to hold off Dissolution (Snitzel ) and the fast finishing Lord Cecil (Animal Kingdom (USA) in a thrilling finish to the 1200 metre dash.
Taking Aim had placed at his first three starts in good company before
finishing down the track in the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes and this was
his first run since then.
Taking Aim will be set for the Group II BRC Sires'
Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on May 27 and the Group I JJ Atkins
(1600m) on June 10.
Paul Snowden feels Taking Aim is now a much more mature horse than when he failed in the Blue Diamond and believes he will improve enormously from the Gold Coast win.
"This was the run he needed today to get him back on track," Snowden said.\
"He pulled the whole way, he had one fall back in his lap about the 700m and when you have a horse that is a little bit aggressive and that happens it makes them go harder.
"He needed this to blow a bit of wind out of him, he will relax a lot better over further and you will see a much more relaxed and better horse next time.
"We really wanted to give him a run before this Gold Coast race but we accepted in two places and he drew the carpark both times."
A $520,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Segenhoe Stud draft for China Horse Club/ WinStar Farm, Taking Aim runs for a powerful syndicate that also includes Newgate Farm, Aquis Farm and Horse Ventures.
Bred by Segenhoe, he is the best of two winners from stakes-winning Hussonet (USA) mare Girl Hussler, a grand-daughter of former brilliant sprinting filly Clever Zoe.
Segenhoe sold the current yearling from Girl Hussler, a filly by Exceed and Excel, for $500,000 at Inglis Easter earlier this year to Jadeskye Racing/Top Ten Syndicate/Gerald Ryan.
Girl Hussler has a colt to follow by Exceed and Excel and was covered last year by Fastnet Rock.
Taking Aim becomes the 80th stakes-winner for Coolmore stalwart Choisir, who stands this spring at a fee of $29,700.
Paul Snowden feels Taking Aim is now a much more mature horse than when he failed in the Blue Diamond and believes he will improve enormously from the Gold Coast win.
"This was the run he needed today to get him back on track," Snowden said.\
"He pulled the whole way, he had one fall back in his lap about the 700m and when you have a horse that is a little bit aggressive and that happens it makes them go harder.
"He needed this to blow a bit of wind out of him, he will relax a lot better over further and you will see a much more relaxed and better horse next time.
"We really wanted to give him a run before this Gold Coast race but we accepted in two places and he drew the carpark both times."
A $520,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Segenhoe Stud draft for China Horse Club/ WinStar Farm, Taking Aim runs for a powerful syndicate that also includes Newgate Farm, Aquis Farm and Horse Ventures.
Bred by Segenhoe, he is the best of two winners from stakes-winning Hussonet (USA) mare Girl Hussler, a grand-daughter of former brilliant sprinting filly Clever Zoe.
Segenhoe sold the current yearling from Girl Hussler, a filly by Exceed and Excel, for $500,000 at Inglis Easter earlier this year to Jadeskye Racing/Top Ten Syndicate/Gerald Ryan.
Girl Hussler has a colt to follow by Exceed and Excel and was covered last year by Fastnet Rock.
Taking Aim becomes the 80th stakes-winner for Coolmore stalwart Choisir, who stands this spring at a fee of $29,700.
