Taking Aim Secures G3 Ken Russell Memorial
Less than 24 hours after the China Horse Club colours were carried to victory in the Group I Kentucky Oaks by Abel Tasman, they were back in the winner’s circle at the Gold Coast where two year-old, Segenhoe bred and raised Choisir colt, Taking Aim took out the Group III Ken Russell Memorial Classic.
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.
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.
Source: Breednet