A Tale Of Two Ascots
November 30th 2008 06:53
Two of the most important wins by Takeover Target have been by the smallest possible winning margin of a nose.
In the Autumn of 2006 Takeover Target would dominate sprint racing in Melbourne and win both the Lightning Stakes (Group 1) and Newmarket Handicap (Group 1). He would then be invited to race at the Royal Ascot carnival in June in England.
His first (and historic) victory by a nose would be on the 20th of June 2006 when he would win at his English debut.
The 2006 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot was run on a good track and with a capacity field of 28 runners. The field would split into two divisions, with Takeover Target from barrier 17 racing on the outside of the brigade nearest the inside rail. Dandy Man would clearly lead (and beat home) the outside division. At the midway point Takeover Target was travelling sweetly for Jay Ford and moving to challenge the leaders. Takeover Target would sweep to the lead with one furlong to go and then have to withstand a determined finishing effort from the brave Benbaum.
There is a distinct difference between the horse gifted with speed - and the horse gifted with speed and courage. It is almost as if Takeover Target knew himself resurrected (given a second chance) when Joe Janiak saved him from discard and possible slaughter. Takeover Target runs fast, but he also runs bravely and with desire to win. It is not good fortune or accident that saw him win the King’s Stand Stakes by a nose. You may catch him - but you still need to get past him.
And - as serendipity would have it - Takeover Target would return to racing at Ascot (Perth) after an absence of five months after he ran a brave but injured 4th in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. The injury to his suspensory ligament at the time enough to generate speculation and the real possibility that the (then rising) nine year old would never race again.
The understanding between Jay Ford, Joe Janiak, and Takeover Target is a mythical thing. Ford is the only jockey to have won on the champion. He was an unlikely choice for Janiak to make - but then when blessed with success it was a masterly (wise) choice to stick with the unknown apprentice as Takeover Target would then grace the world stage and be Australian and World Champion Sprinter. Takeover Target runs for Jay Ford. And he fights to the line.
In the Winterbottom Stakes Ford took Takeover Target to the lead and waited for the pressure to come from the outside from Miss Andretti’s younger half-brother Danny Beau. Danny Beau had shattered the track record at his previous start and was expected to push the 9 year old champion for the lead. But Danny Beau was allowed to race beside Takeover Target and the pace was dictated from there by Jay Ford. Meanwhile Apache Cat had begun tardily and was then rushed up behind the two leaders. His inglorious run at Flemington proved a wild aberration with this subsequent brilliant closing effort in the Winterbottom. Turning for home it was the old master Takeover Target who had the kick - and with a masterly tactical ride from Ford he sprinted away to a two length break over Apache Cat who was struggling to get into clear running. With 200 metres to go Apache Cat started to close. Stride by stride he drew closer and the two best sprinters in the land drew to the line together. Perhaps another stride later and Apache Cat finds victory. But right on the line Takeover Target in his black shadow-roll held out the baldy-faced, white-blinkered Apache Cat. By a nose.
That’s all it takes: a nose. At Ascot Royal and at Ascot Perth. A nose. A champion.
2006 : King's Stand Stakes (Group 2)
Going : Good to Firm
28 ran
1 Takeover Target J Janiak J Ford 7/1
2 Benbaun M Wallace J P Spencer 16/1
3 Pivotal Point P J Makin L Dettori 25/1
4 Falkirk L Freedman J Murtagh 14/1
2006 King’s Stand Stakes (Group 2):
Takeover Target by a nose
In the Autumn of 2006 Takeover Target would dominate sprint racing in Melbourne and win both the Lightning Stakes (Group 1) and Newmarket Handicap (Group 1). He would then be invited to race at the Royal Ascot carnival in June in England.
His first (and historic) victory by a nose would be on the 20th of June 2006 when he would win at his English debut.
The 2006 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot was run on a good track and with a capacity field of 28 runners. The field would split into two divisions, with Takeover Target from barrier 17 racing on the outside of the brigade nearest the inside rail. Dandy Man would clearly lead (and beat home) the outside division. At the midway point Takeover Target was travelling sweetly for Jay Ford and moving to challenge the leaders. Takeover Target would sweep to the lead with one furlong to go and then have to withstand a determined finishing effort from the brave Benbaum.
There is a distinct difference between the horse gifted with speed - and the horse gifted with speed and courage. It is almost as if Takeover Target knew himself resurrected (given a second chance) when Joe Janiak saved him from discard and possible slaughter. Takeover Target runs fast, but he also runs bravely and with desire to win. It is not good fortune or accident that saw him win the King’s Stand Stakes by a nose. You may catch him - but you still need to get past him.
And - as serendipity would have it - Takeover Target would return to racing at Ascot (Perth) after an absence of five months after he ran a brave but injured 4th in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. The injury to his suspensory ligament at the time enough to generate speculation and the real possibility that the (then rising) nine year old would never race again.
The understanding between Jay Ford, Joe Janiak, and Takeover Target is a mythical thing. Ford is the only jockey to have won on the champion. He was an unlikely choice for Janiak to make - but then when blessed with success it was a masterly (wise) choice to stick with the unknown apprentice as Takeover Target would then grace the world stage and be Australian and World Champion Sprinter. Takeover Target runs for Jay Ford. And he fights to the line.
In the Winterbottom Stakes Ford took Takeover Target to the lead and waited for the pressure to come from the outside from Miss Andretti’s younger half-brother Danny Beau. Danny Beau had shattered the track record at his previous start and was expected to push the 9 year old champion for the lead. But Danny Beau was allowed to race beside Takeover Target and the pace was dictated from there by Jay Ford. Meanwhile Apache Cat had begun tardily and was then rushed up behind the two leaders. His inglorious run at Flemington proved a wild aberration with this subsequent brilliant closing effort in the Winterbottom. Turning for home it was the old master Takeover Target who had the kick - and with a masterly tactical ride from Ford he sprinted away to a two length break over Apache Cat who was struggling to get into clear running. With 200 metres to go Apache Cat started to close. Stride by stride he drew closer and the two best sprinters in the land drew to the line together. Perhaps another stride later and Apache Cat finds victory. But right on the line Takeover Target in his black shadow-roll held out the baldy-faced, white-blinkered Apache Cat. By a nose.
That’s all it takes: a nose. At Ascot Royal and at Ascot Perth. A nose. A champion.
2006 : King's Stand Stakes (Group 2)
Going : Good to Firm
28 ran
1 Takeover Target J Janiak J Ford 7/1
2 Benbaun M Wallace J P Spencer 16/1
3 Pivotal Point P J Makin L Dettori 25/1
4 Falkirk L Freedman J Murtagh 14/1
2006 King’s Stand Stakes (Group 2):
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