2025 Takeover Target Stakes the aim for talented Xidaki

Gosford’s stand-alone Saturday fixture will be the setting for Xidaki’s next step, as trainer Peter Snowden looks to launch his four-year-old into a Brisbane campaign.

The gelding will contest the Listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) after an encouraging first-up run in the Hall Mark Stakes (1200m), where he was beaten under three lengths by Mazu at Randwick.

“He will run in the Takeover Target and then we’ll hopefully go to Brisbane with him,” Snowden said.

“He got back too far first-up but he had a good blow and he wasn’t beaten too far.

“He closed off nicely and he will be better next up at Gosford.”

Last year, Xidaki showed his potential when winning the Group 3 Winx Guineas (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast, and Snowden is hoping for a similar outcome this winter.

He’ll also be sending Media World to the Fred Best Classic (1400m) following his Guineas win at Hawkesbury, with the Stradbroke Handicap a long-range goal.

Ryan and Alexiou’s Just Party was a close second behind Media World, and they’ll now pin their hopes on Sequista at Gosford as she lines up in the 2YO Handicap (1200m).

Sequista was last seen finishing fourth in the Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) at Randwick and is chasing her first career win.

They bypassed a shorter 1100m assignment at Randwick in favour of this step up in trip.

“We wanted to get her out a step further than the 1100 metres and she will probably go to Gosford,” Ryan said.

Two years ago, Chrysaor parlayed a win in this race into a placing in the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes, and the stable is not ruling out a similar plan for Sequista.

“There are some fillies races up there but we don’t want to get too far in front of ourselves,” he said.

“If she doesn’t win or run very well her next start then it’s a waste of time going to Queensland and you just hang around here.”