Still On Target, By A Nostril
The Sunday Age
Sunday December 23, 2007
YET another wonderful chapter in the Takeover Target fairytale was written yesterday when the eight-year-old won by a nose in a dramatic finish to the Razor Sharp Quality (1200 metres) at Randwick.
Starting $1.95 favourite, Takeover Target took the role of pacemaker in the five-horse field and broke the heart of Dance Hero ($2.60), who had eyeballed him until topping the rise before fading to finish last.But with $71 chance Alverta charging down the centre of the track, and looming up on Takeover Target, the world-class sprinter left his owner-trainer Joe Janiak guessing as the horses crossed the line."No, I didn't think he'd won," Janiak said. "Has he won? I don't know; I'll take it."Racing NSW chief steward Ray Murrihy said Takeover Target had once again provided the drama. "He has been a marvellous fillip for racing post-EI," he said.The result was all the more remarkable given jockey Jay Ford's assessment of Takeover Target. "Under the circumstances, he was lucky to win," Ford said. "He was in the wrong mood before the race and he can be like that sometimes, but he found plenty when challenged. He has come through once again. He is a great horse, a great horse to be associated with."On board Alverta, Glyn Schofield was in awe of Takeover Target. "I had him beat a stride before the line and a stride after the line," Schofield said. "But these champion horses are hard to get past. Originally we would have been happy to finish four or five lengths behind but they went very fast up front, she settled well. I rode her on Thursday and we knew she'd have good closing sectionals but he was just too good."Janiak, who bought Takeover Target at a tried-horse sale for $1400, has won just over $4.5 million in prizemoney from the gelding. "He is a gusty bugger, he just doesn't know how to get beat, this horse," Janiak said. "We presumed Dance Hero would lead again today, we'd sit off him, but we've had to work hard all the way and there is a bit of improvement in him."Takeover Target will run in the Villiers Stakes over the Randwick 1400 metres on January 4, but Janiak is undecided about whether to then travel to Melbourne for a tilt at winning a second Newmarket Handicap. "That's his go, 1400," Janiak said. "He has lost a bit of his early speed; he doesn't win by six or seven lengths like he used to. Jay is of the opinion he'll probably even get a mile." Takeover Target will return to England for the Royal Ascot meeting next year, and Janiak is also eyeing a major sprint race in Singapore in late May, on the way to Europe.
© 2007 The Sunday Age