Horses for Sale

   Tuxedo Junction (GB) 


Exciting dual purpose prospect,
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    Fighter Allen (FR)  


Exciting new horse with proven form, 
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                   Take Control

Take Control was the winner of the Scottish National in 2002 in the colours of David Johnson and was ridden by Ruby Walsh.  He was a 1994 born bay gelding by sire Roselier and out of a dam called Frosty Fairy.  He began his career in Ireland in the care of J J Murphy making his debut under rules at Cork in 1998.  He actually had three disappointing runs over hurdles where he was well beaten before they returned him to a bumper at Naas in February 1999 and he bolted up over 2m3f!

He arrived at Pond House the following month and after a holiday he made his stable debut at Wincanton in December 1999.  He started out in a novices handicap hurdle off a mark of 88 with A P McCoy in the saddle.  He was the easy winner this day and went onto win again at Haydock later that month.  He was then third in a Cheltenham qualifier at Haydock before returning to winning ways in a novice hurdle at Plumpton.  He ran okay at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2000 finishing seventh and returned to the course for their April meeting to win his fourth hurdle race of the season.

It was a novice chase campaign for him in the autumn of 2000.  He made a winning chasing debut at Exeter in October beating What’s Up Boys and the won again at Newton Abbot after this.  He was then stepped up in class and finished runner up in a Grade 2 novice chase at Newbury and also finished second in the Feltham novices chase, Grade 1 at Kempton over Christmas.  A disappointment followed before he won his third chase of the season at Warwick in February 2001.  He ran twice more that season grabbing a third placing at Haydock and then his final run was in the Scottish National at Ayr where he finished a well beaten ninth behind Gingembre on this occasion.

After a summer holiday his comeback run was in the Hennessy at Newbury in December 2001.  He finished a very close third, beaten a neck and two lengths behind What’s Up Boys and Behrajan.  The Welsh National was next later that month and he finished sixth well beaten behind Supreme Glory.  He was highly tried that season and although disappointing on some occasions he was fourth in the Aon Chase at Newbury, pulled up at the Cheltenham Festival and then was fifth at Aintree.  It was then back to Ayr in April 2002 for the Scottish National.

AP had chosen the more fancied Cyfor Malta in the race and so Ruby Walsh was booked to ride Take Control.  Having been held up early on he made headway to challenge three out and then stayed on strongly on the run in to lead close home beating Shotgun Willy and Gunther Mcbride in a thrilling finish.  Having been a bit hit and miss throughout the season he finally got the big victory he so deserved at odds of 20/1.

Life was tough for him the following season but his races included the Hennessy, Tommy Whittle, Welsh National, Midlands National and Scottish National once again – a few names there!  While he did not trouble the judge at all he saved his best effort for Ayr once again and finished sixth, albeit well behind winner Ryalux.  He then went onto finish third in the Summer National at Uttoxeter in June before having his summer break.

He returned with a fine effort to be third in the Hennessy (for the second time) behind Strong Flow before being pulled up in the Welsh National after this.  He then went to Warwick to run in the Tote Classic handicap chase where very sadly he fell and was fatally injured.

Take Control had 35 career starts and was the winner of nine races and was placed another nine times as well.  He was rated 147 at best and won over £173,000 in prize money.  Although you would not call him the most consistent he did contest a lot of the top races.  He was certainly very talented on his day with his biggest day in the spotlight winning the Scottish National in 2002.

Watch his win in the Scottish Grand National here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OathmR6Q9Y8