Takanori extended her unbeaten run to four with a first-up victory at Belmont on Saturday.

Takanori (3f Vital Equine – Nishikawa by Fuji Kiseki) had to dig deep in a busy finish to beat Amber’s Hero (Medal Of Honor) and Stock Trader (Trade Fair) in the Gold Front Thoroughbreds Hcp (1000m).

“She’s not really a 1000 metre horse but had been working well at home,” trainer Sharon Miller said.  “It’s her first time here and she started looking around once she got to the front.  We will give her one more run and then get ready for the summer carnival.”

Takanori won first-up at Bunbury last October and then returned in February for further wins at Pinjarra and the LR South-West Breeders’ Classic.  Her older half-brother Lucky Hero (Flying Spur) won 5 sprints in Hong Kong and another half-brother Tee Emar (Mossman) was stakes-placed at Morphettville and Doomben in a career cut short as a three year-old.

The Gervase Park graduate cost $52,000 at the 2011 Perth Magic Millions and she is part-owned by a syndicate that includes Neil Pinner and Tony Buhagiar.  They also raced Group 1 sprinter Ellicorsam and this season’s stakes-performed filly Angel Rose with Miller.

Gervase Park owner Chris Gales also sold Vital Equine filly Vital Importance at the 2012 Perth Magic Millions.  She was a cheap $5,000 buy for Neville Parnham and has earned $175,000 after recent victories at Ascot and Belmont (2).

Vital Equine (Danetime) was a G2 winner of the 2006 Champagne Stakes at York and he stands at Touchstone Farm for a $4,400 (inc gst) service fee.

– Karl Patterson