Takeover Target Takes Drama In His Stride

Sun Herald

Sunday December 23, 2007

By Craig Young Randwick

YET another sensational chapter in the Takeover Target fairytale was crafted yesterday when the eight-year-old won by a nose in a dramatic finish to the fourth at Randwick.

Starting favourite Takeover Target exploded under devoted jockey Jay Ford and assumed the role of pacemaker in the five-horse field. Eventually, he broke the heart of the Gai Waterhouse-trained Dance Hero, which had eyeballed him until topping the rise.

But with Alverta charging down the centre and looming up on Takeover Target, the world class sprinter left his owner/trainer Joe Janiak guessing after he 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 Ford's assessment of the horse afterwards.

"Under the circumstances, he was lucky to win," the jockey 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, South African jockey 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 to good."

Janiak, who purchased Takeover Target at a tried horse sale for $1400, has now 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 or to stay in Sydney.

"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.

"He is still going to get 61 kilograms and concede seven or eight kilos to some good horses but he'll keep them honest in that."

Janiak is certain Takeover Target will return to the UK for the Royal Ascot meeting, where he won last year's King's Stand Stakes. This year he finished fourth in the same race and claimed second in the Golden Jubilee.

And Janiak is also eyeing off a major sprint race in Singapore in late May. He said the Singapore run would be "a great way to break up the trip" to the UK.

© 2007 Sun Herald

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