International Takeover
May 19th 2008 08:15
Takeover Target has English glory in his sights again after a brilliant performance to win the Krisflyer International Sprint in Singapore yesterday. He broke the track record at Kranji and has now won in four countries on three continents.
[AP Photo/Wong Maye-E]
Although not brilliantly away Takeover Target railed through to share the lead and was brilliantly rated by Jay Ford who shares a great understanding with the horse. When Magnus loomed up to win Jay Ford was still sitting and waiting to ask Takeover Target for a final effort. When asked to find something extra Takeover Target found a length and although a sitting shot racing in track record time, he was able to still able to outlast Magnus and the fast finishing Sanziro who charged late.
Once again Magnus has just fallen short in a feature race against a champion racehorse. Not only placed behind Takeover Target, but also behind Weekend Hussler and Miss Andretti.
Unfortunately Absolute Champion (so well named, being Hong Kong's world champion sprinter in 2006) was euthanised after the race. He raced in Australia as a two year old where he was known as Genius And Evil.
Australia has a group of world class racehorses that can (and do) taste success all over the world. Our sprinters have proven to be the international benchmark. Takeover Target and Magnus are proven in England and would be expected to be just as competitive again. The missing ingredient is Apache Cat who does appear to have considerable upside to his racing career. At present his plans are still up in the air with Australia still being a preferred option. Our prizemoney does make it easy to choose home against the difficulties of travel, but it is a wish and desire that our best horses do race against the best in the world. It is like a World Cup situation where we support our representatives without ever needing to wager on them. The contest itself is enough.
I hope that in the Spring Weekend Hussler proves himself capable over 2400m so he can (the next Spring and following year) go to France and contest the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. It has been suggested that Tuesday Joy might be set for the Arc this year, but as good as she has proven herself to be, she does not have the ability, status (and speedfigures) of Weekend Hussler.
John Singleton (owner of Tuesday Joy) was also an owner of the great Strawberry Road who finished 6th in the Arc of 1984 when he was a victim of a ride so poor that it mirrored the effort of the English jockey aboard Crisp in the 1973 English Grand National when caught by the (later to be) legendary Red Rum.
Weekend Hussler would prove himself the best sprinter in the world if tested. The magic and imagination would be if he could prove to be the word's best stayer by winning the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The Japanese were in a national fervour when Deep Impact represented them (as favourite) in the Arc of 2006. We have had worthy possible representatives in recent years that have not travelled overseas to compete at this ultimate level. Makybe Diva was in consideration for an attempt, and her ability to defeat Vinnie Roe proved that she would have gone very close. Northerly would have proved a great representative, and Might And Power would have gone very close. Our sprinters have proved themselves at the highest level. And we have had international success with Better Loosen Up winning the Japan Cup of 1990. But an Arc would be a pinnacle. Will we ever have a staying horse good enough to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe?
Something to aspire to.
Takeover Target wins Krisflyer International
[AP Photo/Wong Maye-E]
Although not brilliantly away Takeover Target railed through to share the lead and was brilliantly rated by Jay Ford who shares a great understanding with the horse. When Magnus loomed up to win Jay Ford was still sitting and waiting to ask Takeover Target for a final effort. When asked to find something extra Takeover Target found a length and although a sitting shot racing in track record time, he was able to still able to outlast Magnus and the fast finishing Sanziro who charged late.
Once again Magnus has just fallen short in a feature race against a champion racehorse. Not only placed behind Takeover Target, but also behind Weekend Hussler and Miss Andretti.
Unfortunately Absolute Champion (so well named, being Hong Kong's world champion sprinter in 2006) was euthanised after the race. He raced in Australia as a two year old where he was known as Genius And Evil.
Australia has a group of world class racehorses that can (and do) taste success all over the world. Our sprinters have proven to be the international benchmark. Takeover Target and Magnus are proven in England and would be expected to be just as competitive again. The missing ingredient is Apache Cat who does appear to have considerable upside to his racing career. At present his plans are still up in the air with Australia still being a preferred option. Our prizemoney does make it easy to choose home against the difficulties of travel, but it is a wish and desire that our best horses do race against the best in the world. It is like a World Cup situation where we support our representatives without ever needing to wager on them. The contest itself is enough.
I hope that in the Spring Weekend Hussler proves himself capable over 2400m so he can (the next Spring and following year) go to France and contest the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. It has been suggested that Tuesday Joy might be set for the Arc this year, but as good as she has proven herself to be, she does not have the ability, status (and speedfigures) of Weekend Hussler.
John Singleton (owner of Tuesday Joy) was also an owner of the great Strawberry Road who finished 6th in the Arc of 1984 when he was a victim of a ride so poor that it mirrored the effort of the English jockey aboard Crisp in the 1973 English Grand National when caught by the (later to be) legendary Red Rum.
Weekend Hussler would prove himself the best sprinter in the world if tested. The magic and imagination would be if he could prove to be the word's best stayer by winning the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The Japanese were in a national fervour when Deep Impact represented them (as favourite) in the Arc of 2006. We have had worthy possible representatives in recent years that have not travelled overseas to compete at this ultimate level. Makybe Diva was in consideration for an attempt, and her ability to defeat Vinnie Roe proved that she would have gone very close. Northerly would have proved a great representative, and Might And Power would have gone very close. Our sprinters have proved themselves at the highest level. And we have had international success with Better Loosen Up winning the Japan Cup of 1990. But an Arc would be a pinnacle. Will we ever have a staying horse good enough to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe?
Something to aspire to.
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