The Tony Peter Taxi To The Moon has burst into prominence this season as a top echelon sprinter and after a win in the Gr 3 Lebelo Sprint over 1000m at Turffontein on December 27 and a fine second in the Gr 1 Computation Sprint over that same course and distance he proved on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Scottsville he can compete at the highest level over 1200m too with a fine victory in the iconic Gr 2 Golden Horse Sprint, which has been won in the past by some of the finest sprinters in South African history, including the legendary JJ The Jet Plane, who won it twice.
In his run before the Golden Horse Taxi To The Moon won over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville, which will stand him in good stead for the Gr 3 Post Merchants on Hollywoodbets Durban July day and in the Gr 1 wfa Mercury Sprint on Gold Cup day, both over 1200m.
Taxi To The Moon’s merit rating has been raised three points to 126.
That will see him having a fine chance in the Post Merchants, in which the top merit rating band reads: 62kg: 122 or more.
Presumably that means he will carry 62kg and be well in.
In the race on Saturday Tristan Godden relaxed Taxi To The Moon down the seemingly favourable inside about five lengths off the leaders King Of The Gauls and Ziyasha. who were on the outside.
The fancied pair Café Culture and One Eye On Vegas looked set to fight things out, until Godden bravely pushed the Kestorm Investments-owned 10-1 shot through a narrow gap between the two.
Taxi To The Moon prevailed over Cafe Culture by a quarter of a length and his time of 67,07 seconds was the fastest feature race time on a day of fast 1200m times.
The Hollywood Racing trio of One Eye On Vegas (9/2), the fast-finishing Kaalvoet (14-1) and Ziyasha (20-1) filled the next three positions.
Winning jockey Tristan Godden said it was quite fortuitous that the engagement had fallen into his lap after he had called trainer Tony Peter to declare his availability.
“He keeps on improving since the gelding, said trainer Tony Peter.
The Oldlands Stud bred Taxi To The Moon was a R1 million Cape Premier Yearling Sale buy for Kenneth Pillay’s Kestorm Investments, who had a fan club on course to enjoy the exciting victory.
The 4yo gelding has now won 8 races with 7 places from 22 starts and stakes of R1 613 094.
By Vercingetorix (Silvano), the winner is out of the once winning Indigo Magic mare Earn A Moon, a half-sister to Mike De Kock’s former Dubai stakes winner Lucky Find and the well-performed PE stakes performer Pay The Piper. Both of the latter won 8 races.
