Quirky and in form Onthetake

Canberra Trainer Doug Gorrel’s patience looks to have paid off with the recent form of Onthetake. Having entered his yard from Clare Cunningham’s stable, Gorrel’s moody mare has amazingly finished worse than fourth in just one of her past 14 starts. Entered in this Wednesday’s TAB Federal, Onthetake will be hunting her fourth win for the 2020/2021 season and Gorrel thinks she is well placed to do so.

“She’s absolutely flying at the minute” Gorrel said. “She just keeps improving and despite the fact I wanted to keep her at the 1200m, the 1300m here won’t be an issue."

She has been tough work for all involved with the horse but Gorrel has never doubted her talent.

“She’s a bit of a fruitcake” Gorrel laughed. “Besides her first preparation when we were figuring her out, she’s been really good for us. She does work herself up, she’s really quirky but boy she is talented.”

Onthetake who has amassed over $150,000 in prizemoney will meet a strong field in the $34,000 TAB Federal including recent TAB Highway winner Banger and Zelago took out the Canprint Communications Handicap in emphatic fashion on John McGrath Auto Group Black Opal Stakes Day last start.  

The Barbara Jospeh, Paul & Matt Jones-trained Zelago looks to be following the same path as 12 months prior, where after a strong win on day one of the Canberra Carnival, the son of Delago Deluxe put together a string of three victories on the trot.  

Later in the day, the Greg Burke Racing Management Handicap sees a host of talented runners battle it out over the mile. Exotic Deel, once near the top of the market in this year’s Country Championship Final, has failed his last two starts out and will be looking to bounce back with authority. The Nick Olive-trained mare will face stiff competition in Nieces and Nephews, Loafing (NZ) as well as John Sargent’s last start winner Land Ahoy.

Racing begins at Thoroughbred Park on Wednesday at 1:57pm with the John McGrath Auto Group Handicap.

 

Image: Onthetake (14) beats a big field at Thoroughbred Park on Friday 4 September 2020. Photo credit: Bradley Photos