KEY POINTS:
Takeanotherchance's performance in tomorrow's $100,000 HS Dyke Avondale
Guineas has massive significance for his future.
It will almost certainly decide if we ever see the talented 3-year-old again.
Essentially, Takeanotherchance will be shipped to Hong Kong if he
runs in the first three placings, an extremely likely
result given his form.
Before his last-start R80 win at Te Aroha, Takeanotherchance was
purchased by Hong Kong owners for a figure thought to be somewhere near seven figures.
The new owners, who previously raced one of the world greats, Vengeance Of Rain, have said they want the horse in Hong Kong as soon as he's qualified to be shipped there, which the Hong Kong Jockey Club has
advised will happen if he runs in the first three placings tomorrow.
But Bryce Tankard, who brokered the sale, says he will be doing his best to get the owners to leave the horse here for the $2.2 million Telecom Derby at Ellerslie in late February.
Tankard was a horse trainer in Cambridge until he relinquished his licence at the end of last season to completely take over the
bloodstock business jointly operated with his father, Ginger Tankard.
A month ago the pair flew to Hong Kong to meet new clients Raymond and
Winston Chow when their established clients recommended them as
agents to find a replacement for the retired Vengeance Of Rain.
The deal on Takeanotherchance was quickly brokered.
"At this stage the agreement is for the horse to head to Hong Kong after
this race if he runs in the first three, but like all things those decision can be open to review," said Bryce Tankard yesterday.
"If he happened to win impressively, or storm home to run second -
because he'll run a distance this horse - then I'll be reminding the owners of a $2.2 million Derby here in February."
Senior owner Raymond Chow was recently presented with an award for
his services to horse racing by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
"I told them when the deal was struck that I hoped this horse turns out as good as Vengeance Of Rain," said Bryce Tankard.
"They said: 'No Bryce, he won't be, but if he's half as good we'll be delighted'."
Takeanotherchance burst on the scene when he raced away with the
Wanganui Guineas in September at long odds.
He was so impressive coming off a quick pace that it was clear it wasn't a fluke and he proved that when he finished a close fourth to
Kildonan in the Bonecrusher Stakes at Ellerslie when having a
slight issue with his first race right-handed.
He won by only a short neck at Te Aroha in his first start from the Pike stable, but he carried 58kg as a 3-year-old against older
horses and ran a fast 1.22.24 for 1400m. That will have cleaned him up nicely for this race.
Tell A Tale and Takeanotherchance stand out on established form, but
there is a line-up of emerging talent among the others.
Firebolt looked good making ground into second behind impressive runaway
winner Walk In The Park at Ellerslie last week.
He keeps getting to the line strongly and that type of horse is often helped a little by stepping up to better class in races run at a
faster clip.
Outtalimitz was very green but displayed ample talent when he left maidens at Pukekohe two weeks ago.
He's got plenty to learn, but he should have received some of that education with his last performance and it wouldn't surprise too much
to see him making a good job of the big step up in grade.
Heza Karma Karzi looked a tough stayer in the making winning in maiden
class at Tauranga.