The Takeover Target Stakes held at Gosford stands out as one of Joe Pride’s most cherished races on the calendar, considering his impressive history of triumphs spanning over 20 years.

Although he fell short in his initial bid in 2004 using Red Oog, that event served as a key milestone for the horse who later secured dual Group 1 victories, marking his debut in open black-type competition.

Building from that early experience, Pride has secured victory in the race on five occasions, with three of those winners – Title (2011), See The World (2012), and Ball Of Muscle (2015) – achieving their initial stakes success in this Gosford sprint, whereas Kuro (2017) picked it up further along in his racing journey.

His latest triumph occurred with Think About It three years back, with that gelding leveraging the race as a launchpad to snag the Group 1 pair of the Kingsford-Smith Cup and Stradbroke Handicap in his following two appearances prior to taking out The Everest during the spring season.

“I’m not sure there is another race I’ve won more times than this one,” Pride said.

“I’ve had good success. I even ran into Takeover Target when he won it, and who it’s named after now. That was with Red Oog, who ran third.

“I have quite often been able to use it as a progression race. It’s a nice race along the way for a horse being introduced to stakes racing.”

For Saturday’s edition, Pride will send out Kerguelen, and this Godolphin gelding presents a solid opportunity to further bolster his trainer’s outstanding legacy at the track.

The gelding seeks a black-type victory following outings in Group company over his last two runs, most recently producing sharp closing splits to finish fifth behind the seasoned stable companion Mazu in the Hall Mark Stakes (1200m).

“He ran amazing sectionals and that’s what he can do. He can break 33 (seconds) coming home,” Pride said.

“He will do that again on Saturday, it’s just what sort of head start he will be giving. But he will be the horse to beat.

“I want to get him into the Stradbroke, but he needs to be winning a race like this to go there.”

Pride has reunited with Think About It’s usual jockey, Sam Clipperton, who is confirmed aboard Kerguelen.

Clipperton stepped away from racing 14 months following his 2023 Everest success, feeling his passion had waned, yet the break provided renewed energy and motivation, prompting his return to riding last year.

Pride notices the transformation and is thrilled to welcome Clipperton back aboard.

“He’s a different person now. He was stale at the end, and Sam will tell you that,” Pride said.

“His mind wasn’t in the right place but, gee, he’s focused now. He’s a good rider, and he looks very stylish on a horse.”

Kerguelen joins Crepe Myrtle as Pride’s duo of Godolphin representatives at Gosford, and the trainer holds similar optimism for the mare’s prospects in the Triple M Thunder Handicap (1000m).

“I saved her from last week because I didn’t like the draw. She’s got a better draw this week and she will be hard to beat,” he said.

“I think she is on the right trajectory to be getting to a stakes race this campaign.”

Explore the Australian betting sites for top odds in the Takeover Target Stakes.