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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                   It Takes Time

It Takes Time was a 1994 born bay gelding by Monrelimar out of a mare called Dysart Lady.  He may not have been a household name but he was a very good horse on his day and was always dining at the top table so to speak.  He started his career in bumpers in Ireland and after finishing second on debut he won his next two starts both at Leopardstown.  He won by a very impressive 15 lengths the first time and although made to work harder the second time, in January 2000, he still won well.  Owner David Johnson bought him privately after this.

His first run for Pond House was in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2000.  He finished well behind but was then turned away for the summer.  He made a winning hurdling debut that autumn at Exeter in October.  In fact he went on to win his first six starts over hurdles and A P McCoy was on board each time.  His first win was over 2m2f but he was soon stepped up in trip and won over three miles at Doncaster on his second start.  He followed up with a win in novice company at Fontwell in February before he was put away for that season.

After a summer break he returned to action with a very easy win in a handicap hurdle off a mark of 118 at Newton Abbot in November 2001. Ten days later he won a handicap off 126 at Cheltenham’s November meeting, beating Brother Joe by 1 ¼ lengths. He returned to Cheltenham the following month to win a Pertemps hurdle qualifier off 134 and remain unbeaten over hurdles.  He was suited by waiting tactics in his races and he loved passing horses.

He suffered his first defeat on his seventh start over hurdles at Haydock when stepped up in class.  He still ran well and finished third in a Grade 2 behind very good horse Jair Du Cochet. His next start was in the 2002 Stayers hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.  He finished a gallant third, 13 lengths behind the winner, the mighty Baracouda. He ran another solid race at Aintree after this, finishing third in the Martell hurdle before ending a wonderful season on a high by winning on the final day of the season at Sandown.

He embarked on a novice chase campaign the following season and finished a close third on his debut at Cheltenham in November, beaten 1 ¾ lengths.  It was an even narrower margin of defeat on his next start as he finished ½ length second to Sir Rembrandt back at Cheltenham in December. It was a cracking race and battle up the run in and both the winner and ‘Timmy’ were considered serious SunAlliance contenders.  He got a deserved first victory over fences on his third start at Haydock.  He was the easy winner beating The Bajan Bandit by nine lengths.  His next start after this was in the SunAlliance chase at the 2003 Cheltenham Festival.  He was as short as 3/1 in the betting but unfortunately did not run his race this day and was last of the finishers. He bounced back to run a good race and finish second at Aintree on his final start of that season.

His first run back after his summer holiday was in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November.  He was staying on to challenge in third place when unfortunately falling two fences from home.  He was fifth in the Tripleprint Gold Cup after this before pulling up in the King George at Kempton over Christmas,  He was not seen back on the track again until November 2004 where he finished fifth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. A couple of below par efforts followed before he was third at Cheltenham in January 2005 and got the biggest win of his career in the Grade 1 Ascot chase.  He won the race in the year it was run at Lingfield due to the redevelopments at Ascot.  He beat the talented Ollie Magern by two lengths with Jamie Moore in the saddle. 

He finished midfield at Newbury after this before he tackled the 2004 Grand National.  He ran a cracker to finish fourth behind Hedgehunter beaten 18¼ lengths. Given his customary waiting ride he held every chance at the third last but could not go with them after this.  He ran at Perth and ran another good race to finish second later that month on his final start of that season.

His comeback the following season was a fine fourth over the national fences once again in the Becher chase at Aintree.  He was only narrowly beaten 1¼ lengths with Richard Johnson on board. He struggled a bit in all the top races after this, pulled up in the 2006 Grand National but ran okay in the Betfred gold Cup at Sandown to finish sixth.

After a summer holiday he was admirably consistent the following season but did find it difficult to win.  His form figures read 3340252306.  He continued to contest a lot of very good races and he carried on running in the summer of 2007 at the age of 13.  His final ever race was at Market Rasen in their feature chase of the year where he finished sixth in September 2007.  He was retired to live with Oliver and Eileen Defew after Eileen had looked after him in all his time at Pond House.  He spent many happy years with them before sadly passing away.

It Takes Time won 11 races from 45 career starts and he was placed 18 times as well.  Rated 155 at best he won over £318,000 in prize money. 

Watch his win in the 2005 Ascot chase here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CO8s41XK1Q