Best sprinter in the world?

arganaut · Postby **arganaut** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 4:52 am

Takeover's jockey, Jay Ford, flew out yesterday for England.

He said to the press before leaving,

"If Takeover Target can settle in and reproduce his best - if he can run like he did when winning the Lightning and Newmarket in Melbourne - he'll be very hard to beat.

"It's a bit of an unknown given we don't know much about the other horses, but at his best Takeover Target could compete anywhere.

"He's the best horse I've ridden. I know I've only been riding five years, but he's just a phenomenal animal.

"I've never ridden a horse who is as tough and has such a will to win."

There is a press conference tomorrow at Ascot for all the Australians.

6 DAYS TILL TARGET FLYS AT ASCOT!!!
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erins isle · Postby **erins isle** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 6:07 am

http://www.selectastable.co.uk/CleverTV ... onId=15687

Join the game.......

arganaut · Postby **arganaut** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 8:27 pm

Latest news from press conference today on Takeover Target -

http://sport.guardian.co.uk/horseracing ... 21,00.html

and more of the latest news on the 'Aussie Assault' team -

http://www.theage.com.au/news/horse-rac ... 35297.html
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arganaut · Postby **arganaut** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 8:40 pm

For anyone interested, I have now added a photo of Takeover winning his last start at Flemington, the Gr 1 Newmarket Handicap, as my profile pic on the left.
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erins isle · Postby **erins isle** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 11:32 pm

Argonaut, where can I find a bigger seize? Website?
My eyes aren't that good! Thanks in advance.

arganaut · Postby **arganaut** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 12:36 am

Hi Folks,

Here is a link with the same photo as my profile but much larger of Takeover Target's last win, the 2006 Gr 1 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington, Melbourne, Australia.

This is the pinnacle of sprint races in this part of the world.

Notice the smile on jockey Jay Ford's face of jubilation, marvelling at this amazing thoroughbred, Takeover Target.

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~racetrack1

Enjoy!
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arganaut · Postby **arganaut** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 7:14 pm

Here is the latest news on Takeover Target with photo of him after trackwork yesterday -

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,86 ... 43,00.html

http://www.smh.com.au/news/horseracing/ ... 73720.html

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... 69,00.html
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arganaut · Postby **arganaut** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 10:52 pm

Just over 48 hrs to go, before the Target lines up in the Kings Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.

If he pulls up well he will also contest 4 days later, the pinnacle of the UK sprinting races, the Gr1 Golden Jubilee Stakes.

The field for the Kings Stand is -

Takeover Target
Moss Vale
Reverence
Glamour Puss
Ashdown Express
Baltic King
Benbaun
Bond City
Boogie Street
Celtic Mill
Corridor Creeper
Resplendent Glory
Signor Panettiere
Tax Free
Texas Gold
The Tatling
The Trader
Balthazaar's Gift
Godfrey Street
La Cucaracha
Mecca's Mate
Classic Encounter
Dandy Man
Tabaret
La Chunga

The race is on at 3.10pm Tuesday UK time and telecast from BBC1 to local networks around the globe.
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arganaut · Postby **arganaut** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 7:26 am

Latest news and Takeover Target is compared to Seabiscuit!!!!!

http://sport.scotsman.com/racing.cfm?id=892962006

http://sport.independent.co.uk/general/ ... 090148.ece

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common ... 48,00.html
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ZiaLand · Postby **ZiaLand** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 9:16 am

Arganaut, thanks for bringing Takeover Target to our attention. What a wonderful story. I'll look forward to following his career.

Laurie

arganaut · Postby **arganaut** » Mon Jun 19, 2006 1:01 am

Thanks Laurie.

He is a real 'once in a lifetime' sort of horse and it would be great to see him at his best overseas.

Here are some of the big races from the Royal Ascot Carnival with Takeover's races in blue -

Day One - Tuesday 20 June/Wednesday 21 June
Race 1 - 23:35 AEST The Coventry Stakes (Group 2)
Race 2 - 00:10 AEST The King?s Stand Stakes (Group 2)
Race 3 - 00:50 AEST The St James?s Palace Stakes (Group 1)
Race 4 - 01:25 AEST The Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1)
Race 5 - 01:55 AEST The Ascot Stakes (Handicap)

Day Two - Wednesday 21 June/Thursday 22 June
Race 1 - 23:35 AEST The Jersey Stakes (Group 3)
Race 2 - 00:10 AEST The Windsor Forest Stakes (Group 2)
Race 3 - 00:50 AEST The Prince of Wales?s Stakes (Group 1)
Race 4 - 01:25 AEST The Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage Handicap)
Race 5 - 01:55 AEST The Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2)

Day Three - Thursday 22 June/Friday 23 June
Race 1 - 23:35 AEST The Norfolk Stakes (Group 2)
Race 2 - 00:10 AEST The Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2)
Race 3 - 00:50 AEST The Gold Cup (Group 1)
Race 4 - 01:25 AEST The Britannia Stakes (Heritage Handicap)
Race 5 - 01:55 AEST The Hampton Court Stakes (Listed)

Day Four: Friday 23 June/Saturday 24 June
Race 1 - 23:35 AEST The Albany Stakes (Group 3)
Race 2 - 00:10 AEST The King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2)
Race 3 - 00:50 AEST The Coronation Stakes (Group 1)
Race 4 - 01:25 AEST The Wolferton Rated Stakes (Listed)
Race 5 - 01:55 AEST The Queen?s Vase (Group 3)

Day Five - Saturday 24 June/Sunday 25 June
Race 1 - 23:30 AEST The Chesham Stakes (Listed)
Race 2 - 00:05 AEST The Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2)
Race 3 - 00:45 AEST The Golden Jubilee Stakes (Group 1)
Race 4 - 01:25 AEST The Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap)
Race 5 - 01:55 AEST The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (Heritage Handicap)

JUST OVER 24 HRS UNTIL THE 'THUNDER FROM DOWNUNDER' SCORCHES THE ROYAL ASCOT TURF!!!
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Ill-bred · Postby **Ill-bred** » Mon Jun 19, 2006 1:31 pm

This horse is being quoted at 5-to-1 odds...

How does he compare to Choisir?

arganaut · Postby **arganaut** » Mon Jun 19, 2006 5:09 pm

He is a better horse than Choisir.

Choisir really peaked in his career at Royal Ascot whereas Takeover has achieved back in Oz what few horses ever have with the times he has run and winning the Gr 1 Sprinting Triple Crown.

He will be in the first half dozen and with 100m to go, his jockey Jay Ford, will give him his head and it will be a massive dog-fight if anything tries to go past.
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Barbaro06 · Postby **Barbaro06** » Mon Jun 19, 2006 5:13 pm

I'll be cheering him on...

Now only if they had a sprint race on the turf in the Breeder's Cup!!!

arganaut · Postby **arganaut** » Mon Jun 19, 2006 6:16 pm

The day has finally arrived!

Latest news from Royal Ascot on Takeover Target and the other 'aussie raiders' -

http://www.smh.com.au/news/horseracing/ ... 84272.html

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common ... 48,00.html

http://www.rte.ie/sport/2006/0619/jubilee.html

Today is the Day!! The 'Thunder from Downunder' at a stroke past midnight AEST will be let loose across the famed new Royal Ascot course.
Where will you be when the King's Stand is run and won!
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