News

Takeover's sudden finish

12th Jul 2009

Sun Herald - Craig Young - Sunday, 12 July 2009

RACING'S latest fairytale is over but for thoroughbred cult hero Takeover Target it was not a happy ending. The Hollywood movie with blockbuster credentials can now begin.

The astonishing rising 10-year-old's career ended after suffering a leg injury when competing in the group 1 July Cup at Newmarket in England on Friday.

"Quite amazing," was the reply from racing legend Bart Cummings when asked about the rise of Takeover Target.

"You could go another 100 years and not see another one like it. A world-class champion sprinter which started from humble beginnings and it took a cabbie from the back of Canberra to do it. Quite remarkable."

Cummings was referring to former Queanbeyan taxi driver Joe Janiak who picked Takeover Target up at a tried horse sale in Sydney for $1250 (plus GST). The then unknown owner-trainer managed to turn the cast-off into a $6,019,400 prizemoney earner. Takeover Target took Janiak and the team around the world.

"A great warrior," said Racing NSW chief steward Ray Murrihy, a stipe for 39 years. "History will judge him kindly - whether I'd rate him in the all-time best sprinter category, I'd argue, but he certainly has the qualifications. He has done it everywhere, he was no one trick pony, he has won in every major state in Australia and overseas."

Takeover Target burst onto the racing scene on April 23, 2004 with a young jockey named Jay Ford a passenger when scoring by seven lengths in a maiden at Queanbeyan. Six starts later and Takeover Target stretched the winning sequence to seven straight when claiming the Ramornie Handicap at Grafton.

Returning from a spell, Takeover Target then charged down the straight at Flemington to claim the group 1 Salinger Stakes on Victoria Derby day. Racing had a new hero but injury required a 26-week spell. It would take six runs before the son of Celtic Swing won again.

The Summer Stakes and Doomben Stakes were collected in Brisbane at the back end of 2005. In the autumn, he claimed the Lightning Stakes and Newmarket Handicap before heading overseas for the first of four visits to Britain.

Takeover Target, Janiak and co stunned the aristocracy when the galloper charged up the famed Royal Ascot straight to win the King's Stand Stakes in front of the Queen. A couple of starts later and he won the best short-course race in Japan, the Sprinters Stakes.

On the way back to Britain last year, Takeover Target defied all comers in Singapore to win the International Krisflyer. He had no luck in the Old Dart on that trip and came home with Janiak eyeing off Western Australia where the horse won the Winterbottom and AJ Scahill Stakes at the end of last year.

Just when you thought it couldn't get better, Takeover Target returned from yet another spell on the middle day of the last Australian Jockey Club autumn carnival at Randwick and was absolutely ruthless in winning the TJ Smith Stakes.

Janiak headed to South Australia and picked up the Goodwood Handicap - Takeover Target's 21st and last win from a career spanning 40 starts. It all came to an end early yesterday, Sydney time.

Takeover Target took up the role of leader in the July Cup at Newmarket and after travelling sweetly for Ford wilted to finish seventh although the courage within meant the gelding was beaten less then four lengths in what is considered the toughest sprint in Europe.

"From the three furlongs out I was quite confident," Ford told Racing And Sports. "He started to pick up nicely into the race but at the 300m he didn't have a lot left. He kept grinding away and he didn't get beaten far."

Could it have been the cracked cannon bone? What a horse!