Takeitout does just that

Bruce Stewart Contributor

The Brett Gray trained harness racing mare Takeitout (Captaintreacherous) took out the third heat of the Vetsouth Equine Southern Belle Series on the grass at Gore today.

The four year old mare sat parked for the majority of the 1750 metre trip, proved too strong for grass track specialist Insarchatwist, (A Rocknroll Dance) and won by half a length.

Takeitout (3) winning at Gore for Sarah O'Reilly (Bruce Stewart Photo)

“Racing against the likes of Millwood Nike really improved her manners. Her brains got better and she’s gone to another level. She’s just starting to settle and become a horse, and it’s making life easier on us at home,” Gray said.

Gray added that he wasn’t worried about Takeitout sitting parked.

“She’s done a bit of that and seems to relax good.”

Takeitout returning to the birdcage after winning at Gore (Bruce Stewart Photo)

And he said the Wayne Pope owned mare will look to race in another heat of the series before targeting the final in Winton.

Pope commented “She’s right up there with the mares I’ve bred. She’s got a lot of speed and her manners are slowly coming right. She wasn’t the easiest horse to break in. She’d nail you if you got too close.”

Takeitout is out of the Elsu mare Whiteout which from just two starts had a win and a second placing.

“All her progeny have had joint problems but luckily she’s the one with the best conformation.”

Pope is retired but still heavily involved in harness racing and he helps Gray out on hopple days.

“I’ve been retired for three years and enjoying it. I play bowls.”