Takeover Target has already created his fair share of history having gone from a $1250 reject purchase to an eight-time Group One winner, but the globetrotting champion will be looking to etch another chapter, possibly the final one in his remarkable story when he takes on the world's best sprinters yet again in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on Saturday. (12:45am Sunday AEST).
When he first travelled to Ascot in 2006 as a five-year-old with lofty ambitions, few could have thought he would become a legend of one of the world's greatest racing carnivals. He won the King's Stand Stakes at his first start down the Ascot straight and while he hasn’t won again in five starts since, he has never finished further back in fourth, earning a place in the hearts of English racing fans.
Saturday's Golden Jubilee, a race he has finished second, third and fourth in over the past three years, will most likely mark his farewell to England, and whatever the old marvel does, he will be sent off in style.
Takeover Target is around the $7 mark to win the Golden Jubilee, which also features Sacred Kingdom, the horse which won the KrisFlyer Sprint in Singapore in May, where the Australian finished eighth. There is a fair Aussie connection with the $4 favourite, who was bred here and will have Australia jockey Brett Prebble on board. Sacred Kingdom was the undoubted sprint champion of Hong Kong but lost all form before finding his best again in the Krisflyer.
But as is typical with Ascot, there are raiders from all over the world looking for the riches and the prestige of winning there. South African JJ The Jet Plane will challenge for favouritism having kicked off his stay in England with an effortless with at Windsor a few weeks back. Trainer Mike De Kock is renowned for setting his horses for the big races and it would not surprise to see the two-time South African Group One winner prevail in this race.
The other horse of interest to both punters and race fans is the unbeaten Greek horse Ialysos, who now finds himself in Luca Cumani's yard while last year's winner Kingsgate Native returns from his stud duties to defend his title.
Takeover Target is the sort of horse you can never write off and as Scenic Blast proved earlier in the week, the Australian sprinters are clearly competitive with the world's best. The only question is if the old legs can carry him against some the world's quickest horses over the straight six furlongs. He will be thereabouts, but maybe might again find one or two too good for him.
Australian racing's final Group One of the season takes place on Saturday at Eagle Farm with the Winter Stakes (1400m) for the fillies and mares. Super filly Ortensia ($2.80) backs up from her fantastic third in the Stradbroke two weeks ago, and a repeat of that effort should see her successful here. The state of the track is a worry, but Craig Williams should find himself with plenty of room to manoeuvre from gate 14.
Last year's winner Absolut Glam ($6) is the major threat, with Damien Oliver returning to the saddle, while Chinchilla Rose ($14) is in form after a cracking win in the Dane Ripper. Take the $5.50 about Forensics at your own peril, this will be her last start before she's off to stud, and her performances on wet tracks don't inspire. Marveen ($18) could be the blow out, while Danehill Smile could be the best $41 shot running around anywhere on Saturday.
The Group Three Tatts Cup (2200m) is the other feature, with Rainbow Styling ($3.50) favourite to capture some late northern riches after an impressive win in Sydney last start. There's more convictions for most of these horses than in the characters in Underbelly, but Rainbow Styling isn't one of them. As often happens in these distance races, the rising star prevails.
Bren's Tips:
Royal Ascot: R3 - Golden Jubilee Stakes - JJ the Jet Plane
Best Bet:
Eagle Farm R7 - Winter Stakes - No 18. Ortensia
Best E/W
Eagle Farm R7 - Winter Stakes - No 17. Danehill Smile
Moonee Valley R8 No.6 - Electric Puha