Takeover Target reigns supreme in Sprint

SINGAPORE,  18 May 2008
 
TAKEOVER TARGET sets new course record in winning the
KrisFlyer International Sprint - SNTC photo

TAKEOVER TARGET blitzed his rivals to win the S$1m KrisFlyer International Sprint over 1200m in course record time at Kranji here tonight and will head to England to contest the King's Stand Stakes and Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot for the third year in a row.

TAKEOVER TARGET (Celtic Swing-Shady Stream) defeated fellow Australian runner MAGNUS (Flying Spur - Scandinavia) by half-a-length to clock 1:08.8, clipping 0.2 second off the previous course record first set by Australia's NORTH BOY when winning the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Sprint in 2001 and equalled by LIM'S OBJECTIVE earlier this year.

Hong Kong's runner SANZIRO (Danzero - Will Fly) finished third, ahead of Singapore's WAIKATO (Pins - Skywalker Wilkes).

In 2006, TAKEOVER TARGET, purchased by his cab driver trainer for A$1,400 as a yearling, won the Group 1 Lightning Stakes and Group 1 Newmarket Handicap in Melbourne before heading to England to win the Group 2 King's Stand Stakes and was subsequently rated the best sprinter in the world on turf by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. He finished third in the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes.

Later in the year, TAKEOVER TARGET was crowned Global Sprint Challenge champion after finishing second in the Group 2 Centaur Stakes and taking the Group 1 Sprinters Stakes.

Last year, TAKEOVER TARGET finished fourth in the King's Stand Stakes and was nailed on the line in the Golden Jubilee Stakes.

There was a casualty in the International Sprint when ABSOLUTE CHAMPION broke down at the 1000m and was put down.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

1

 VICTORIA RACING CLUB TROPHY
  RESTRICTED MAIDEN - 1400M  

7

 Gold Key J Meagher D Beasley

1

1

 Bay Of Island S Gray M Airy

2

2

 Zinku S Burridge T Affandi

3

8

 Hi Jack L Laxon B Vorster

4

2

 PERTH RACING TROPHY
  CLASS 4 - 1400M      

6

 Piercing S Burridge Kellady

1

7

 August Moon M Clements W Marwing

2

5

 Lucky Ninety-Nine D Hill B Vorster

3

14

 Welcome Back D Dragon A Ng

4

3

 HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB TROPHY
  BENCHMARK 83 - 1200M      

6

 Zizou P Shaw W Marwing

1

4

 Helium J Meagher SH Low

2

2

 Oneninetyfive B Dean R Fradd

3

5

 Hello Gilmon D Dragon G McKeon

4

4

 JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION TROPHY
  CLASS 4 - 1600M      

14

 Keep Away H Takaoka Zaki

1

7

 Ricoco P Shaw B Vorster

2

2

 Ace Arriba L Laxon N Callow

3

10

 True Blue D Koh Woodworth

4

5

 PAN MALAYSIAN POOLS SDN BHD TROPHY
  OPEN - 1400M      

11

 World Excellence B Dean Saimee

1

12

 Fantastic Owners B Dean B Vorster

2

7

 Sagittarius S Burridge Woodworth

3

8

 Lim's Zerperb J Meagher B Prebble

4

6

 PERAK TURF CLUB TROPHY
  CLASS 3 - 1600M      

3

 The Hornet D Dragon G McKeong

1

7

 Raphael M Clements W Marwing

2

11

 Holtmail P Shaw R Fradd

3

2

 Flying Langfuhr B Dean D Oliver

4

7

 MOONEE VALLEY RACING CLUB TROPHY
  OPEN - 2000M      

4

 Big Easy L Laxon Saimee

1

2

 Stealth B Marsh B Vorster

2

6

 Worth The Wait Baertschiger S John

3

1

 Jade H Takaoka S Cheam

4

8

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES INTERNATIONAL CUP
  INTERNATIONAL GROUP 1 - 2000M  

1

 Jay Peg H Brown A Marcus

1

9

 Recast L Laxon N Callow

2

2

 Valius Laffon-Parias B Prebble

3

14

 World Delight S Burridge J Powell

4

9

 KRISFLYER INTERNATIONAL SPRINT - 1200M

2

 Takeover Target J Janiak J Ford

1

3

 Magnus P Moody D Oliver

2

8

 Sanziro C Fownes D Beasley

3

12

 Waikato L Laxon J Powell

4

10

 PROGRESS - 1200M

6

 Superczar D Hill R Stewart

1

10

 Jolie's Shinju M Clements Saimee

2

3

 Richest Gift P Shaw B Vorster

3

2

 Temujin S Gray E Legrix

4