Sacred Kingdom crowned the world's best sprinter

9 December 2007

Sacred Kingdom justified his short price favouritism and confirmed that he is the best sprinter in the world when running out the emphatic two and a quarter length winner of the CX HK Sprint under Gerald Mosse.

Last year's winner Absolute Champion put up a great defence of his title when filling the runner up spot two and three quarters of a length ahead of Royal Delight in third and another local trained horse Scintillation to give Hong Kong sprinters a clean sweep in the race for the second time in three years.  Hong Kong horses have now dominated the Sprint for the last six years.

Sacred Kingdom's market rival, the Australian trained Miss Andretti was never seen with a realistic chance from her wide draw, after running rank in the early parts of the race and coming home a well beaten tenth.  Europe's major hope Benbaun, was a disappointing thirteenth and was never seen with a chance.

The early speed was cut out by Royal Delight and Why Be with Benbaun prominent in third but Sacred Kingdom in mid division was always travelling smoothly and when Gerald Mosse asked him for his effort in the straight, the response was electric as he ran down his local rivals Absolute Champion and the front running Royal Delight.

Australian jockey Craig Newitt said Miss Andretti was never comfortable racing right handed and that was the only explanation he could offer for her below par performance. "She struggled going this way, got her head up early and was never comfortable tracking around the corners," he said.

Afterwards a delighted Mosse had only this to say, "He is a very good horse, quite simply one of the best I've ever ridden."

CXHKIR 2007 Photo Release - Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint

9 December 2007

Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint Field

Thursday 6 December 2007

Laurie Laxon, the Singapore-based champion trainer, watched WhyBe (CXHK Sprint) work out on the Sha Tin turf and was happy enough with what he saw.

"I couldn't fault his work. Everything has gone well with him. He travelled well, has eaten up well since he's been here. He's at his winning racing weight, around 530 kilos which is good, as he can tend to get a little heavy but he's spot on," he said.

"He did everything right to day, handled the right handed turn and changed legs as you would hope. We won't know how good he is until Sunday, but I think he'll run well. He tends to be on or close to the lead in his races back home, but he doesn't have to be and Noel Callow is a patient jockey."

Pleased with reigning Sprint titleholder Absolute Champion's lead-up, trainer David Hall said: "I've been pleased with both runs this season. He hit the line strongly last time behind Sacred Kingdom and though he was well beaten, we have walked from that result thinking we have a 5lbs pull at the weights and a little extra of fitness up our sleeve."

Commenting on his Sprint runner, Marchand D'Or, trainer Freddie Head, making his first appearance at Sha Tin, said: "All is well with the horse. I was pleased with his work today."  

Trainer Mark Wallace was also at the track to see his Benbaun, bidding to go better than third in the Sprint last year, on the all-weather.

He said: "I think he is a better horse this year, mainly because in the past he's had the odd niggling injury, but this year has been problem free, and as a result he's been travelling better in his races. If he was meeting the same opposition as last year I'd fancy him to finish closer this time but the field does look a fair bit stronger on Sunday."

Champion sprinter Miss Andretti has drawn barrier 12 in a field of 13 for the final leg of the Global Sprint Challenge, the Group 1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. However the mares’ trainer Lee Freedman isn’t fazed by the gate and remains confident Miss Andretti can cement her standing as the world’s best sprinter. “I don’t think it’s that big a disadvantage – she’s a go-forward horse”, Freedman said just minutes after the barrier draw. “I’ve never really worried about it before, she’s won a lot of races from wide draws. If she was a slow beginner I’d be worried but it hasn’t dented my confidence”, Freedman said. One positive for Miss Andretti is that she has noted fast beginners either side of her. Singapore superstar Why Be, to be ridden by star Victorian jockey Noel Callow, drew the outside gate 13, while French galloper Tiza drew 11. However while the visitors were having all the apparent bad luck, local heroes Sacred Kingdom and Absolute Champion firmed as the two horses to beat. Absolute Champion, aiming for back-to-back Hong Kong Sprint titles, drew three, while Sacred Kingdom fared well in barrier six. The Victorian-bred Sacred Kingdom has become the new hero of Hong Kong racing, winning seven of his eight starts including a last start track record performance in the Sprint Preview a fortnight ago. Connections remain confident Sacred Kingdom, formerly trained by Clarrie Connors in Sydney, can build on his already imposing record. The final barrier draw for the Hong Kong Sprint is: Absolute Champion (3), Benbaun (2), Sacred Kingdom (6), Marchand D’Or (5), Scintillation (7), Tiza (11), Desert Lord (9), Why Be (13), Royal Delight (4), Sunny Sing (1), Sunny Power (10), Green Birdie (8), Miss Andretti (12).

Photo Release - Cathay Pacific HKIR Tuesday Track Work

4 December 2007

2007 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint (Group 1) – 1200m - HK$12 million (US$1.6 million)

Selected Runners as at 21 November 2007

Sacred Kingdom shines in CX Sprint

17 November 2007

Saturday's final trials for the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races underlined just how formidable the home defence will be in the Sprint and Mile divisions on 9 December.  Sacred Kingdom was on a different plain to top class rivals in the Cathay Pacific International Sprint Trial, winning by two and three quarter lengths in a new track record of 1 min 7.5 sec.  

Odds-on favourite Sacred Kingdom's win was awesome and showed that Australian sensation Miss Andretti will have to produce her very best to become the first overseas horse to win the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint since 2001. It should certainly be a fascinating duel.   Sacred Kingdom, trained by Ricky Yiu, would have lowered the track record even further had jockey Gerald Mosse not eased up on the four-year-old son of Encosta De Lago in the final 50 metres.

It was the fifth time the track record for 1200m has been breached since today's runner-up Absolute Champion began the sequence in this race last year.

"Gerald did well to find cover on him and he said he relaxed well in midfield. He took his time for as long as possible but at the 300m the horse was fighting him so Gerald let him go," Yiu said.   "I knew he had a great chance but I thought if he were to win, it would be by a neck or a length. Not like that because that was something else. He's just very exciting."

You can view the race by clicking here: http://www.hkjc.com/english/racing/results.asp?racedate=17/11/2007&raceno=07

GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE LEADERBOARD

30 September 2007

Aston Machan leads throughout to win the Sprinters Stakes!

30 SEPTEMBER 2007

In heavy rain, and on a heavy track at Nakayama Racecourse, 3yo filly Aston Machan finally broke through to win her first Grade 1 title when leading all the way in the 6th leg of the Global Sprint Challenge – the Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes.

In the field of 16, 8yo evergreen galloper Lohengrin flew out of the gates to take the initial lead in the 1200m dash, but while jockey Hirofumi Shii was content to hold that horse back in the initial stages, veteran jockey Eiji Nakadate pushed Aston Machan along, and she quickly assumed the lead before proceeding to open up a 3 or 4 length gap on the field.

Sans Adieu and Orewa Matteruze raced handy with I’ll Love Again settling behind the first group on the rails, but Aston Machan was flying in front, and passed the 600m pole in just 33.1 seconds on the heavy track.

Even after the field rounded the corner into the final straight, Aston Machan was still well clear of the field, and although I’ll Love Again and Sans Adieu were trying to catch her, it was soon clear that the break was too much. Although she tired in the final stages, Aston Machan held off the challengers until the end – the official margin just 3/4 of a length.

Favorite Sans Adieu finished best of the chasers for 2nd, while I’ll Love Again battled to the end and just held 3rd place from the fast finishing Nakayama specialist King’s Trail. Rank outsider Tamamo Hot Play also finished well for 5th, while Lohengrin finished on again well for 6th.

Aston Machan was sent out 3rd favorite – a better price than had been expected during the spring when she had shown that she would be a force to be reckoned with in the Japanese sprinting ranks. Her failure (as odds-on favorite) at her previous start had clearly worried many Japanese racing fans, but she showed today that she is best when allowed to run along, and no doubt that will be the racing pattern for her in the future.

The winner is the first Grade 1 winner from the first crop of stallion Admire Cozzene, from the Woodman mare Rustling Copse. She is owned by Ms. Mayumi Tosa, and was bred by Shadai Farm. The win in the Sprinters Stakes was the 2nd victory in the race for trainer Sei Ishizaka, and was the first Grade 1 victory in 13 years for jockey Eiji Nakadate.

RESULT SPRINTERS STAKES
30 SEPTEMBER 2007

Barrier Draw SPRINTERS STAKES (G1)

28 September 2007

NAKAYAMA 11R
THE SPRINTERS STAKES(G1)

1

1

Hs	Horse	Sex Age	Weight (Kg)	Sire Dam	Dam's sire Dam's dam	Jockey Trainer	Owner Breeder	Colors
1	I'll Love Again(JPN)	H5	57.0	El Condor Pasa Tokio Reality	Meadowlake What a Reality	Masami Matsuoka Takahisa Tezuka	Yomoji Saito Northern Racing
2	Precise Machine(JPN)	H8	57.0	Mayano Top Gun Be Silent	Sunday Silence Global Dyna	Katsumi Ando Kiyoshi Hagiwara	Seiichi Iketani Shiraoi Farm
3	Agnes Raspberry(JPN)	M6	55.0	Air Jihad Agnes Minerva	Tony Bin Berliani	Koichi Tsunoda Katsuichi Nishiura	Takao Watanabe Shadai Farm
4	Orewa Matteruze(JPN)	H7	57.0	Sunday Silence Curly Angel	Judge Angelucci Dyna Carle	Masayoshi Ebina Hidetaka Otonashi	Y.Odagiri Northern Farm
5	Tamamo Hot Play(JPN)	H6	57.0	Fuji Kiseki Hot Play	Northern Taste Dyna Hot	Syu Ishibashi Katsumi Minai	Tamamo K. Shinsei Bokujo
6	Sans Adieu(JPN)	M5	55.0	French Deputy Sheriyza	Caerleon Sharaya	Yuga Kawada Hidetaka Otonashi	Takao Matsuoka Shimokobe Farm
7	Aston Machan(JPN)	F3	53.0	Admire Cozzene Rustling Copse	Woodman Fieldy	Eiji Nakadate Sei Ishizaka	Mayumi Tosa Shadai Farm
8	M O Winner(JPN)	H6	57.0	Nihon Pillow Winner Miracle Muteki	Carroll House Northern Flower	Kenichi Ikezoe Toshiyuki Hattori	Mitsugu Oasa Mombetsu Bokujo
9	Amberjack(JPN)	C4	57.0	Paradise Creek Feel So Nice	Armiger Colonial Beauty	Yoshitomi Shibata Takao Nakano	Nisshin B. Nisshin Farm
10	Koiuta(JPN)	F4	55.0	Fuji Kiseki Violet Love	Dr Devious Vain Gold	Hayato Yoshida Masashi Okuhira	Maekawa Kikaku Co. Ltd. Shadai Farm
11	Peer Gynt(JPN)	H5	57.0	Sunday Silence Twinkle Bride	Lyphard Devil's Bride	Hiroyuki Uemura Kojiro Hashiguchi	Sunday Racing Co. Ltd. Northern Farm
12	Lohengrin(JPN)	H8	57.0	Singspiel Carling	Garde Royale Corraleja	Hirofumi Shii Masanori Ito	Shadai Race H. Shadai Farm
13	Meisho Bowler(JPN)	H6	57.0	Taiki Shuttle Nice Raise	Storm Cat Nice Tradition	Yuichi Fukunaga Toshiaki Shirai	Yoshio Matsumoto Hinode Bokujo
14	Couverture(JPN)	F3	53.0	Black Hawk Hikari Crystal	Lucky Sovereign Costume	Hiroki Goto Sakae Kunieda	K.Hidaka Breeders Union Tomina Bokujo
15	Suzuka Phoenix(JPN)	H5	57.0	Sunday Silence Rose of Suzuka	Fairy King Rose of Jericho	Yutaka Take Mitsuru Hashida	Keiji Nagai Keiji Nagai
16	King's Trail(JPN)	H5	57.0	Sunday Silence Santa Fe Trail	Northern Taste Happy Trails	Katsuharu Tanaka Kazuo Fujisawa	Sunday Racing Co. Ltd. Northern Farm

FINAL FIELD SPRINTERS STAKES (G1)

27 September 2007

MEDIA RELEASE
Monday 24 September 2007

JULY CUP AND THE AGE CLASSIC JOIN GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE

The Darley July Cup, centrepiece of Newmarket’s Ritz Club July Festival, and The Age Classic Weight For Age (WFA), run at Australia’s internationally renowned Spring Racing Carnival in November, have been added to the Global Sprint Challenge in 2008, creating a series of eight races in 2008.

The Age Classic replaces the Australia Stakes (which is run in February), creating a second opportunity for horses to travel to Australia, after the European and Japanese legs have been run. The Coolmore Lightning Stakes at Flemington in February remains the opening leg of the Series. 

The bonus structure for the series remains unchanged. A US$1 million bonus remains available to any horse that can win a Global Sprint Challenge Group One race in three different countries as well as competing in a qualifying race in the fourth country. However, the new structure, with the second opportunity in Australia in November, allows for horses to begin their bonus chase not just in Australia in February, but also at Royal Ascot and Newmarket in June and July.

The four partners in the Global Sprint Challenge – Ascot Racecourse Limited, Hong Kong Jockey Club, Japan Racing Association and Racing Victoria Limited – believe the changes to the structure will strengthen the series and encourage more European-trained horses to be actively campaigned within the Challenge.

Ascot’s Head of Public Relations, Nick Smith, said: “The inclusion of the Darley July Cup is a welcome and natural extension to the existing series.

“The Global Sprint Challenge has quickly established itself and has added a new dimension to the Royal Meeting, with Miss Andretti becoming the third horse trained outside Europe to win at Royal Ascot in as many years.

“The record of the Australian-trained horses in the King's Stand Stakes, especially this year where they filled three of the top four places,
has been a significant contributory factor in the increase in quality of that race. We’re delighted to be able to announce that the King’s Stand
Stakes will be run for £250,000 next year (from £200,000) and the Golden Jubilee Stakes will be run for £375,000 (from £350,000).”

Newmarket Managing Director, Lisa Hancock, added:

“The Darley July Cup has a great heritage as Europe’s midsummer championship sprint and it is a natural follow-on from the two high
profile races at Royal Ascot. The race has been increased in value by £25,000 for 2008, to £400,000. This increase, coupled with those
at Royal Ascot, means that we can collectively offer more than £1,000,000 (US$2,000,000) prize money over the three UK legs.

“It will be a pleasure working with Ascot to try to bring more and more of the world’s best sprinters to compete in Britain and at the same time, hopefully Europe's best can be tempted to go to Australia, Japan and Hong Kong for their Global Sprint Challenge races as we move towards what could be the most genuinely international series in the history of our sport."

Victoria Racing Club’s Group 1 handicap, run at Flemington on Derby Day, will now be run as the new Weight-For-Age Sprint on Emirates
Stakes Day in November 2008.

Leigh Jordon, Director of Racing Operations for Racing Victoria, said:

“To have a leg of the Global Sprint Challenge run during Victoria’s prestigious Spring Racing Carnival is further proof of the growing status
of the series and shows that the Spring Racing Carnival is a truly international event, which is growing every year. The addition of the famous
July Cup to the schedule is also further evidence of the series’ standing on the world racing stage.

“February’s Coolmore Lightning Stakes remains the lead-off race, having launched Choisir’s, Miss Andretti’s and Takeover Target’s
Royal Ascot bids in recent years, and the eight-race series culminates with the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint in December.”

Sam Takizawa, Secretary General, JRA, added:

“We believe that it is most important for the Global Sprint Challenge structure to be able to promote as many overseas ventures to the four partner countries as possible, to further establish the prestige of the series.

We welcome the Darley July Cup and The Age Classic to the Challenge.”

William A Nader, Executive Director of Racing at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, also endorsed the new format for 2008. “Any move that encourages and strengthens top class international competition will always receive full backing in Hong Kong. Adding these prestigious British and Australian legs not only consolidates the Global Sprint Challenge, but also adds flexibility as far as the US$1 million bonus is concerned,” he said.

“The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint has a tradition of producing champions – Silent Witness and Absolute Champion are recent examples –
and it will continue as an essential component in identifying the world’s best sprinters. We look forward to attracting even stronger fields to our signature sprint event on the second Sunday in December.”

* dates subject to change 
^ subject to exchange rates

Sprinters Stakes (G1) - 6th leg of the Global Sprint Challenge

September 22, 2007

Preview

The Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) will be run for the 41st time on Sunday 30th September, but unfortunately this year’s renewal will be lacking the high level of international participation it has enjoyed in recent years. The penultimate leg of the Global Sprint Challenge has been one of the best sprinting races anywhere in the world for the past two years with champion Hong Kong sprinter Silent Witness recorded a devastating win in 2005 before Australian fairytale galloper Takeover Target won well last year. This year’s race does not have the international flavor of past years, but there are some promising Japanese sprinters in this field to ensure that it will be another very good race.

The Sprinters Stakes was established in 1967, the straight forward name being chosen as the race was originally the only Grade race over 1200m. Originally established as a Grade 3 race, the race was upgraded to Grade 1 status in 1990 and has had some very good winners including the amazing Japanese sprinter Sakura Bakushin O (now champion sprinting sire in Japan) who won consecutive Sprinters Stakes in 1993 & 1994, the Prix Jacques Le Marois (Group 1 in France) winning Taiki Shuttle in 1997, the powerful finisher Durandal in 2003 and the exceptionally fast Calstone Light O in 2004 as the last Japanese trained winner of the race.

The 1200m course at Nakayama Racecourse (just outside Tokyo) is a demanding one. The outside turf track which is used for this event is approximately 1840m in circumference, with the 1200m course composed of a downhill 200m run to the first gradual turn which continues for 400m before the final sharp turn which leads into the 310m straight. There is a sharp uphill ascent in the final 200m which can really test the leaders. There are 38 nominations for the race which has a capacity field of 16. Below is a summary of the key horses expected to be favored on the 30th September:

Suzuka Phoenix: The class horse of the field, who won the Grade 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen in March this year, before getting a long way back and finishing well for 5th in the Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen. A son of Sunday Silence with champion Japanese jockey Yutaka Take expected to ride, so everything points to this horse being the favorite for the race, and being very very hard to hold out.

Sans Adieu: Blew away a Grade 2 field of sprinters in the record time of 1:07.1 last start in the Centaur Stakes (the 5th leg of the Global Sprint Challenge) when winning by 5 lengths. Started her career on dirt, but has really shown she can be a top sprinter on turf, and in this race she will certainly not be at the 30/1 quote she was last time. Has to be one of the favorites after her last effort.

Aston Machan: A 3yo filly who’s 2yo and early spring efforts had all of Japan believing she could become one of Japan’s top sprinters later this year. After being just beaten by the subsequent Derby winning filly Vodka in last year’s 2yo Grade 1 race for fillies over 1600m, she won the 1400m Principal race Fillies Revue easily in March in the very fast time of 1:21.8. She disappointed in the Grade 1 Oka Sho (the Japanese 1000 Guineas equivalent) but was sent out an odds-on favorite in the Kitakyushu Kinen last start. Will likely pay to forgive that run when she seemed unhappy being restrained in the run, before finishing the race in the worst part of the track to finish 6th. Will likely try and lead here and will be very hard to run down

.

Couverture: Another promising 3yo filly who looks to be a very good sprinter. Raced in the worst part of the track but still finished 3rd in the 1000m straight race at the Niigata racecourse – the Ibis Summer Dash, before winning impressively in the Keeneland Cup at the Sapporo racetrack last start. Is sure to be thereabouts.

Koiuta: Winner of the high level Principal race Victoria Mile over 1600m in May. She did seem to have everything her own way that day, and as expected, struggled in the US when she finished last in a 9 horse field in the $1m CashCall Mile at Hollywood Park in July. Being brought back to 1200m for the first time in 2 years, but she has won 2 out of 3 at the distance, so connections will be hoping for a forward showing here.

Lohengrin: An interesting runner here. Has always shown loads of ability, but has never been able to break through at Grade 1 level, although he does have placings at that level all over the world. Is a very fast horse, and the switch back to 1200m here could suit, but he is already an 8yo, and it may all be too late.

Black Bar Spin: A consistent US-bred son of Put It Back who always seems to be thereabouts, but seems to find a bit extra on wet tracks. Has ability and should finish well, but any rain would greatly help his chances.

I'll Love Again: A model of consistency, and was rewarded in March when he broke through for his first win at Principal race level (The Ocean Stakes). He has a good record at Nakayama, and he comes into this race at his third run this preparation after a nice return from a spell when finishing well for 4th in the 1000m dash down the straight in the Ibis Summer Dash in mid July, before sticking on reasonably to finish 5th in the major lead-up for this race, the Centaur Stakes.

Agnes Raspberry: Another consistent performer who has been in fine form this summer, finishing 1st, 2nd and 3rd in three of her past four starts - all at Principal race level. She does have a tendency to get back in her races which may have been a reason for her failure in the Centaur Stakes last start when disappointing in finishing 9th as 2nd favorite. She will have lost favor with a lot of Japanese punters here, but she does have ability.

Orewa Matteruze: One of few Grade 1 winners in the field, but his form has been ordinary over the past year. He had followers in the Centaur Stakes with Yutaka Take on board, but he could only finish 11th. He is now a 7yo, and the son of Sunday Silence will be big odds here.

Kyowa Roaring: Winner of the Kitakyushu Kinen, when finding the best part of the track. That was his first principal race win (at his 30th career start), but he had few admirers in the Centaur Stakes last start and could only finish 7th. He will be big odds here again, but he is by Sunday Silence.

GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE LEADERBOARD

9 September 2007

THE CENTAUR STAKES(G2) - RESULT

Centaur Stakes (G2) - Late bloomer Sans Adieu wins again!

Sunday 9 September

In the 21st running of the Group 2 Centaur Stakes over 1200m at the Hanshin racecourse just outside the city of Osaka in Japan (the 5th leg of the Global Sprint Challenge), the 5yo mare Sans Adieu produced a dazzling display of speed to win by 5 lengths in a track record time of 1:07.1.

The mare had broken through for a principal race win in the 1000m Ibis Summer Dash in July when having her first start on turf after limited success in 12 starts on dirt, but was forgotten by the Japanese punters today and was sent out at the juicy odds of 30/1 after finishing 7th at her only run in between.

Although the expected leader Marine Festa missed the start, the race was run at a relatively high pace with Sans Adieu outside Golden Cast (who had won this race twice in the past) who took the lead after jumping well from the inside gate. Australian bred favorite Kinshasa no Kiseki was not far off the pace, while the remainder of other favored runners including Agnes Raspberry settle towards the tail of the field.

As the field entered the straight, Sans Adieu fought off the other leaders, and when Kinshasa no Kiseki pulled out to make his run, for a fleeting moment it seemed the race might turn to a race in two, but it soon apparent that Sans Adieu was not finished, and she accelerated away from the field.

At the post, Sans Adieu had put 5 lengths on her opponents in a wonderful performance that is likely to see her installed as favorite for the next leg of the Global Sprint Challenge – the Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama racecourse in Tokyo on the 30th September. Kinshasa no Kiseki died on his run, and in the finishing stages, 3yo filly Kanoya Zakura flew home through the middle of the field to grab second by a neck, with Kinshasa no Kiseki just holding on for 3rd.

Sans Adieu is a 5yo mare by French Deputy out of the Caerleon mare Sheriyza, and was bred by Shimokobe Farm. She is owned by Mr. Takao Matsuoka, trained by Mr. Hidetaka Otonashi and was ridden by young up and coming Japanese jockey Yuga Kawada.

Centaur Stakes (G2) - 5th leg of the Global Sprint Challenge

September 4, 2007

Preview

The Grade 2 Centaur Stakes (1200m) will be run for the 21st time on Sunday 9th September. The Centaur Stakes was a leg of the inaugural Global Sprint Challenge in 2005, and has since remained a feature, as the Challenge goes from strength to strength. Australia's champion sprinting mare Miss Andretti currently leads the 2007 Global Sprint Challenge clearly with 32 points, earned through her wins in the first 3 legs of the Challenge - the Group 1 Coolmore Lighting Stakes (1000m), the Group 1 Timbercorp Australia Stakes (1200m) both held at Moonee Valley racecourse in Australia this year, and the Group 2 King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, before her disappointing 15th in the 4th leg of the Challenge, the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes - also at Royal Ascot. Although several overseas horses had earlier indicated that they would run this year, subsequent events have meant that we will see an all Japanese field go around on Sunday.

The Centaur Stakes was established in 1987, the race taking its name from the statue by Mr. Eiji Yoshida which was sculptured in the form of the Greek mythological character Centaur, and stands at Hanshin racecourse (near Osaka) where this race is traditionally run. The race was originally established as a Grade 3 race over 1400m, but was revised to 1200m in 2000 when the timing of the feature Autumn Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes was changed. Last year, the race was upgraded to Grade 2 status in line with the JRA's overhaul of the Japanese sprinting program.

Although last year, the race was run at the Chukyo track near Nagoya, this year the race is back at Hanshin. The track is relatively flat apart from the last 800m, where a gradual downhill run begins. This continues to the 200m mark where there is a sharp 2m rise ending at the 50m mark. Importantly, this weekend is the first time that races have been held at Hanshin for 2 months, so it is expected that runners closest to the rails - especially frontrunners - will be favored throughout this weekend's racing.

There are 21 nominations for the Centaur Stakes, which has a capacity field of 18. Below is

I'll Love Again: A model of consistency, and was rewarded in March when he broke through for his first win at Principal race level (The Ocean Stakes). He has won his only start at Hanshin, he has a good record at Nakayama which has a steep ascent in the final stages which is similar to that here at Hanshin, and he comes into this race after a nice return from a spell when finishing well for 4th in the 1000m dash down the straight in the Ibis Summer Dash in mid July. He usually races on the pace, and looks very hard to hold out here.

Agnes Raspberry: Another consistent performer who has been in fine form this summer, finishing 1st, 2nd and 3rd in her past 3 starts - all at Principal race level. She has finished 1st and 2nd in her two starts at Hanshin, so she will handle the track, but she does have a tendency to get back in her races which may be the biggest factor against her on Sunday. She definitely has the ability to win with the right run.

Kinshasa no Kiseki: An Australian bred 4yo son of Fuji Kiseki, this lightly raced horse is no doubt one of the best horses racing in Japan that is yet to win a Grade race. He was 3rd in the Grade 1 NHK Mile Cup for 3yos when he was 6 months younger than the rest of the field (due to his southern hemisphere origin), and was very impressive last start when winning in open class over 1400m. Coming back to 1200m for the first time since his easy win on debut, but as he can tend to over-race, that may suit even better than the 1400m -1600m races he has been contesting throughout his career. Looks the standout in the field on current ability, but as with Agnes Raspberry, the question will be whether he gets too far back in the early stages.

Orewa Matteruze: One of only two Grade 1 winners in the field, and although his form has been ordinary over the past year, he will have his followers here on Sunday with the announcement that top jockey Yutaka Take has been booked to ride him in this race. He is now a 7yo, but older horses have been performing well in Japan in recent years, and he showed earlier in the year that he can still run fast time when finishing 3rd in the Grade 2 Keio Hai Spring Cup in the time of 1:20.1 for 1400m. He has never won at Hanshin, but has 4 placings from 5 starts. Many fans will be hoping that Take can bring the son of Sunday Silence back to life on Sunday, and there is no doubt that at his best, he would be an odds-on favorite in this field.

Kanoya Zakura: A 3yo filly who comes into this with 3 wins and 1 second from just 8 starts. After finding the 1600m too far against Japan's best fillies in the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) in April, she was brought back to 1400m and won well in open company, before being well fancied when running in the Kitakyushu Kinen last start over 1200m. Although she finished 5th there, the form out of that race may prove to be false as the inside part of the track was terribly cut up that day. This track will be a very different story, and with her early pace and light weight of 53kgs, she may be one to include in multiples.

Kyowa Roaring: Winner of the race mentioned above, the Kitakyushu Kinen, when finding the best part of the track. That was his first principal race win (at his 30th career start), and this race will show us whether the 6yo Sunday Silence entire is a late maturer who can be a force in these principal race level sprints, or whether last start was a one-off. Considering the state of the track last start, most fans will presume the latter.

Fusaichi Richard: Equal topweight here with Orewa Matteruze on 58kgs, as the only other Grade 1 winner in the field. That was back in 2005 when he was crowned Champion 2yo of Japan, but after starting well in his classic year, he has been in a long slump, with just one victory since his 2005 Grade 1 victory. He has been tried under various conditions (including finishing 6th in the Godolphin Mile on dirt in March this year), and is now being raced over 1200m. A horse with a lot of ability, but this does not appear to be the right race for him.

Meisho Topper: Difficult to evaluate his chances here. Looked like a future star when blitzing the field in the time of 1:07.7 over 1200m at Kokura in late July, which earned him second favoritism last start in the Kitakyushu Kinen mentioned above, but he could only finish 10th there. His work before that race had been poor though, and the inside part of the track where he raced was the worst part of the track. If he is back to the condition he was in two starts back, he could well be the knock out chance here.

Golden Cast: Winner of this race in both 2004 and 2005, when it was run at the Hanshin racecourse. Last year he did not perform when the race was run at Chukyo, but back at Hanshin, the conditions may suit better. He is now a 7yo however, and it has been over a year since he was last placed in a race.

THIRD RACE WINNING QUOTES
GOLDEN JUBILEE STAKES (GROUP 1)
SOLDIER ON TARGET FOR EMOTIONAL NOSEDA

An emotional trainer Jeremy Noseda welcomed his favourite horse, Soldier's Tale, into the winner's enclosure after the injury-prone six-year-old claimed a Group 1 success after beating Australian raider Takeover Target to capture the Golden Jubilee Stakes.

"I adore him, he's my favourite horse and I think this might be my best day as a trainer," said Noseda. "A win like that is very special. After all he's been through he so deserves this win and his owner (Canadian-based Syd Belzberg), who has supported me since I started training, really deserves it for sticking with the horse

"I love him for his heart and will to live, 99 out of 100 horses would have given up after what he's been through - he's fought back from so many problems.

"He had problems with his knees as a two-year-old so couldn't run then I thought he'd win the Jersey at three but he fractured a leg and had to have five or six screws put in. He then had colic surgery and spent three months at the equine hospital when he was minutes away from being put down.

"He was fourth in the July Cup as a four-year-old but then got injured and then I couldn't get him on the racetrack. So many people worked so hard for today, it's special for them for him to finally do it in a Group 1 here.

This is fabulous when you look back on all it's taken to get here this day.

"When he looked like dying he never gave up and despite everything he's been through he's always had a kind heart - so much so that I felt guilty putting a visor on him today.

"We call him Spam at home because he sticks his tongue out and it looks like a piece of spam. I go out and see him every night and shout ‘Spam' to him and he hollers back at me. I've told his owner that if the horse doesn't go off to a be a stallion, he'll be staying with me forever in the yard. It all sounds a bit soppy but I love him to bits."

Noseda was delighted to see rain arriving before the race and said: "I knew he was good enough as long as the rain came because six furlongs is his minimum. The more rain that fell the more it was going to be a test of stamina.

"I knew he'd keep going all the way to the line because he fights so hard and I said to Johnny (Murtagh) beforehand that is he was within three lengths of the leaders at halfway that he would win.

"It's great to beat the Aussies - I have a few gripes that their travel over here is paid for yet we would have to pay our way if we went there for the Melbourne Cup. I'm delighted to beat their best sprinters with a horse that's not a sprinter, maybe it will be put some of the stuff we have had to read about them to bed.

"He could go for the Haydock Sprint Cup if the ground was right and then maybe the Maurice de Gheest and Foret in the autumn. But even if he never wins another race it doesn't matter, this day will always be very special,

Jockey Johnny Murtagh added: "I got a lovely run and followed Takeover Target. When that one quickened I thought he'd win but my fellow got his head down and extended well. The ground was a big help to him and I think he can improve from today because he's not had too many runs."

THIRD RACE THE GOLDEN JUBILEE STAKES
PLACED QUOTES

HEARTBREAK FOR TAKEOVER TARGET

Australian raider Takeover Target was just foiled in the shadow of the post by a head by Soldier's Tale, meaning that he was placed in the Golden Jubilee Stakes for the second year running after finishing third to Les Arcs in 2006.

Trainer Joe Janiak said: "That was a great run and I actually thought that was his race two strides from home. But in racing, there are always prizes and that's what makes it interesting.

"The rain made no difference - it's been a great trip and I'm really glad that we came and the hospitality has been great.

"I'll go to the pub and get drunk now, but I'll have to go home with Takeover Target first!

"We'll take him home now. We were considering Newmarket and the July Cup, which is suitable for him, but while he hasn't had a severe preparation, there are a lot of miles on the clock and I don't want to push him to the limit.

"He'll be retired at the end of next year. I haven't looked what races there are for him back home.

"We were hoping to do the Nunthorpe Stakes at York but it's too late and we'll probably find something for him at the Spring Carnival in Melbourne.

"It actually wouldn't surprise me if we took him home and retired him if there are no suitable races. He's got old legs and I don't want to travel him unless he shows something different. This is probably his last trip overseas."

However, while Janiak went on to rule out another visit to the Far East, he did then open the door to returning to the Royal fixture.

"It's a bit controversial over there [in Hong Kong and Japan] and I think that we will give those places a miss," he added. "All the training techniques and everything else are different.

"If the horse is up to it, I would be more than glad to be here [Royal Ascot]."

Asset was a further half a length away in third.

Richard Hannon Junior, son and assistant to trainer Richard Hannon, said:

"I'm very, very pleased as the rain took the speed out of the ground. But he travelled so well and he is a top, top sprinter and that was the performance of one.

"On that run, he can only get better. Harry Herbert [racing manager to owner Highclere Thoroughbred Racing XXVI] will decide where he goes to and there are loads of options.

"I can't see anything stopping him on fast ground over six furlongs and I will be very surprised if too many beat him over those conditions.

"I said that I can see him becoming champion sprinter for years to come before the race and I meant it."

NEWITT - NOT THE TRUE MISS ANDRETTI

Jockey Craig Newitt was unable to explain the poor performance of Tuesday's King's Stand Stakes victor Miss Andretti in the Golden Jubilee Stakes, in which she finished 15th.

Newitt said: "I'm a little bit dazed really.

"She was struggling 600 metres out which is not like her at all.

"It may be that the two races came a bit close together and also the soft ground here is totally different to the soft ground at home.

"I am dumbfounded though.

"She owes us nothing - it has still been a great week."

Magnus, third in the King's Stand Stakes on Tuesday, did not fare so well today and could only finish 14th.

His jockey Damien Oliver said: "That was no good.

"He was a bit free early on and didn't back up."

THIRD RACE - BEATEN AUSTRALIAN TRAINERS
GOLDEN JUBILEE STAKES
AUSTRALIAN VERDICT

Lee Freedman, the trainer of Tuesday's King's Stand Stakes winner Miss Andretti who finished 15th, said afterwards: "We don't want to make excuses. She came off the bridle far too early which was probably because of the ground. We could have done without the last shower.

"We are counting the week as a big success. The fact we did not get everything our way today is neither here nor there."

Peter Moody, the trainer of King's Stand Stakes third Magnus who came home 14th, declared: "Once again he over-raced, quite severely. It was a bit like the other day.

"I thought Tuesday's run might have taken the edge of him and he would have relaxed today but I think the blinkers have overdone their job and he has done too much early on. Maybe in hindsight, he shouldn't have run today. We will assess the situation."

GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE LEADERBOARD

23 June 2007

SOLDIERS TALE BEATS THE AUSSIES

Saturday 23 June

Soldiers Tale beat the Aussies today winning The Golden Jubilee Stakes narrowly beating Takeover Target. The 9-1 winner came in ahead in the big handicap sprint.   An emotional trainer Jeremy Noseda welcomed his favourite horse, Soldier’s Tale, into the winner’s enclosure after the injury-prone six-year-old claimed a Group 1 success after beating Australian raider Takeover Target to capture the Golden Jubilee Stakes.

"I adore him, he’s my favourite horse and I think this might be my best day as a trainer," said Noseda. "A win like that is very special. After all he’s been through he so deserves this win and his owner (Canadian-based Syd Belzberg), who has supported me since I started training, really deserves it for sticking with the horse

"I love him for his heart and will to live, 99 out of 100 horses would have given up after what he’s been through - he’s fought back from so many problems.

"He had problems with his knees as a two-year-old so couldn’t run then I thought he’d win the Jersey at three but he fractured a leg and had to have five or six screws put in. He then had colic surgery and spent three months at the equine hospital when he was minutes away from being put down.

"He was fourth in the July Cup as a four-year-old but then got injured and then I couldn’t get him on the racetrack. So many people worked so hard for today, it’s special for them for him to finally do it in a Group 1 here. This is fabulous when you look back on all it’s taken to get here this day.

HORSE

30

Any Suggestion

8

Virage de Fortune

5

Rewaaya

5

Ticklish

4

Maybe Better

2

California Dane

2

Dance The Waves

1

Strada

1

Lad Of The Manor

1

Gee I Jane

1

Candy Man

1

Cocinero

1

Red Dazzler

1

Minson

1

Despite popular reports to the contrary, Royal Ascot week is much more a marathon than a sprint. It’s more than even two great sprints featuring the cream of Australia’s short-course gallopers, with 21 black type races run over distances from 1000m to 4400m programmed over the famous five day meeting (Tuesday 19 June to Saturday 23 June). Included among the feature races are six Group 1 and eight Group 2 events boasting some of the world’s finest, most regally-bred thoroughbreds. Each of the five days has Group 1 racing, with two premium events – the Queen Anne Stakes and St James’s Palace Stakes – launching the carnival on Tuesday AEST. Over the ensuing four days, the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, Ascot Gold Cup, Coronation Stakes and the Golden Jubilee Stakes represent world racing at the highest level. Star Victorian Miss Andretti and Magnus, along with their compatriots Takeover Target and Bentley Biscuit, have captured the local and overseas headlines but champions are running on every day of the meeting. Yeats takes centre stage in the Ascot Gold Cup and England’s best three-year-old colts and fillies will be on show on Tuesday and Friday respectively over the 1600m course. Brilliant 2000 Guineas winner Cockney Rebel will be trying to prove himself the standout three-year-old miler of his season in the St James’s Palace Stakes while fillies Finsceal Beo, Darjina, Mi Emma and Rahiyah head a wide open Coronation Stakes field that promises to be a highlight of the meeting. Then all being well after Tuesday’s 1000m sprint opener in the King’s Stand Stakes, Australia’s awesome foursome sprint team will back up in the carnival’s equal richest race, the Group 1 $818,000 Golden Jubilee over 1200m on Saturday. That major last day feature will take on even greater significance if one of the Aussie sprinters can claim the King’s Stand on day one. The staying tests are as much a part of Ascot as the sprints, with three races run at 4000m or longer. The time-honoured Ascot Gold Cup over 4000m is likely to have a major bearing on Melbourne Cup discussions.

FINAL FIELD KINGS STAND STAKES G2

19 JUNE 2007

BRITISH LEGS OF THE GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE

BRITISH LEGS OF THE GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE

ASHES & WORLD CUP JUST NOT ENOUGH FOR THE AUSSIES!

2 May 2007

The Royal Ascot Group One entries are released today and reveal that Ascot is set to witness one of the strongest raids from down under ever seen on any racecourse outside Australia, with four Group One-winning sprinters entered for the King’s Stand Stakes and Golden Jubilee Stakes next month. Shipping and stabling arrangements for all four horses are being finalised.

The 2007 Global Sprint Challenge began on 3rd February with the Coolmore Lightning Stakes at Moonee Valley and the latest Australian superstar was thrown into the international limelight in the form of Lee Freedman’s five-year-old, Miss Andretti.

“Lee knows a thing or two about training mares having been responsible for the triple Melbourne Cup winner, Makybe Diva,” said Nick Smith, Head of Public Relations at Ascot.

“Only this time, the plan is for his charge to take on not just Australia’s best, but the best all around the world.”

Miss Andretti’s Lightning Stakes win was followed by victory in the second leg of the Global Sprint Challenge, the Australia Stakes, again at Moonee Valley. However, it was her subsequent win under top weight and in record time in the Newmarket Handicap at Caulfield in March that really confirmed her credentials to take on Europe’s best at Royal Ascot.

Reigning Global Sprint Challenge Champion Takeover Target (Joe Janiak) also remains on course for Royal Ascot, along with Lightning Stakes second and subsequent Group One Galaxy Stakes winner, Magnus (Peter Moody), and T J Smith Stakes winner Bentley Biscuit, trained by Australian legend and Royal Ascot regular racegoer, Gai Waterhouse.

They could be joined in the Golden Jubilee Stakes by up and coming Hong Kong sprinter, Grand Supreme, and the USA could have a runner courtesy of Trueheart.

“The international dimension of the Royal Ascot sprints has really taken off since Choisir’s memorable double in 2003,” said Nick Smith.

“We have been working very closely with Lisa Hancock and Michael Prosser at Newmarket and William Derby and Lord Grimthorpe at York to actively promote the British summer sprinting scene internationally, with a view to encouraging all the horses entered for Ascot to stay on for the Darley July Cup and Nunthorpe Stakes. We are also discussing within the Global Sprint Challenge committee a formula that would include the July Cup in next year’s challenge.”

Further Information: 

Nick Smith, Head of Public Relations, Ascot, 01344 878524 / 07771 791449

GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE - ASCOT BOUND

19 April 2007

The Global Sprint Challenge has added such an important dimension to the world sprinting calendar that it’s hard to believe that the 2007 series, which began in Australia in February, is only its third cycle.

Following in the footsteps of Hong Kong’s Cape of Good Hope, the inaugural champion in 2005, Australia’s talismanic globe-trotter, Takeover Target, scorched the turf of some of the world’s finest racecourses last year and was crowned champion.

Having suffered some misfortune in their preparations for Royal Ascot since Choisir’s now legendary King’s Stand Stakes / Golden Jubilee Stakes double in 2003, Australian trainers were responsible for no fewer than three Group One-winning sprinters lined at Royal Ascot in 2006.

For Takeover Target and his ex-cabbie trainer Joe Janiak, a win in the Coolmore Lightning Stakes at Flemington was followed by victory in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot. His subsequent demolition of one of the finest and most cosmopolitan recent fields for Japan’s showcase speed event, The Sprinters Stakes, leg six of the challenge, saw his connections lift the trophy.

In addition to Takeover Target’s King’s Stand win and third in the Golden Jubilee four days later, Falkirk, under the care of Lee Freedman, finished fourth equal in the King’s Stand (with Glamour Puss seventh of the 26 runners) for Australia before running in midfield in the Golden Jubilee.

The winners of both Royal Ascot Global Sprint Challenge legs, Takeover Target and UK-trained Les Arcs, both contested the Sprinters Stakes in October. Takeover Target was set to run for the US$1,000,000 bonus in Hong Kong in December until ruled out due to an unfortunate medication irregularity. This was something that was all too common in 2006, a year which saw several high profile international runners disqualified or prevented from running in part due to a lack of uniformity in the rules of racing in different jurisdictions.

The 2007 Global Sprint Challenge began on 3rd February with the Coolmore Lightning Stakes at Moonee Valley and another Australian superstar was thrown into the international limelight in the form of Lee Freedman’s five-year-old, Miss Andretti.

Freedman knows a thing or two about training mares having been responsible for the triple Melbourne Cup winner, Makybe Diva, and now it looks like he has another superstar on his hands, only this time, the plan is for her to conquer not just Australia but the world.

Miss Andretti’s Lightning Stakes win was followed a few weeks later by victory in the second leg of the Global Sprint Challenge, the Australia Stakes, again at Moonee Valley. However, it was her subsequent win under top weight in the Newmarket Handicap at Caulfield in March (the Sprinters’ Melbourne Cup) that really got the pulses racing and put her bang on target to take on Europe’s best at Royal Ascot. More can be read about Miss Andretti’s preparations for Royal Ascot, where the plan at the time of writing is for her to meet reigning champion Takeover Target.

Four horses traveled to the UK from outside Europe in 2006 and all came specifically to compete at either at the Royal Meeting or in Britain’s premier all-aged race, the King George. In July, Heart’s Cry, second in the 2005 Japan Cup and winner of the 2006 Dubai Sheema Classic, played his part in one of the most memorable finishes to the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes in recent memory. A protracted battle all the way up the newly laid straight eventually saw the five-year-old Japanese runner finish a length third to 2005 Arc winner Hurricane Run, with Dubai World Cup victor Electrocutionist just ahead of him in second.

“It was a world class race and to come so close with a horse who had traveled all the way from Japan was one of the greatest thrills that any owner would wish for,” owner Teruya Yoshida said after the race.

“In Japan the King George is recognised as one of the most prestigious and important races in the global calendar and we’ll be back!” Yoshida added.

Choisir became the first horse from outside Europe to win at Ascot in 2003 and since then, four Australian-trained horses have run at Royal Ascot, including not just Takeover Target but also Elvstroem, who finished third in the 2005 Prince of Wales’s Stakes.

The USA has had its successes too, most notably with Hard Buck, who was second to the brilliant Doyen in the 2004 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. The following year fellow American, Mighty Beau, was fifth of 16 in the King’s Stand, only a place behind Hong Kong-trained Cape of Good Hope, who memorably went on to make history for the former province later in the week with victory in the Golden Jubilee Stakes (both races at Royal Ascot at York), securing him the inaugural Global Sprint Challenge title.

The 2007 Global Sprint Challenge follows the same format as in 2006 with two races in Australia, the two Royal Ascot sprints, two autumn races in Japan and culminating in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint in December. A US$1,000,000 is on offer for winning participating Group One races in three out of four partner countries.

Miss Andretti wins the 2007 Timbercorp Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley Racecourse with jockey Craig Newitt Presentation of the Global Sprint Challenge leg trophy to connections of Miss Andretti

FORM FOCUS - TIMBERCORP AUSTRALIA STAKES

How are they going to beat Miss Andretti? That's the question punters have been asking themselves in the lead-up to Saturday's $400,000 Group 1 Timbercorp Stakes at Moonee Valley.

She is unbeaten in three runs at Moonee Valley, has also saluted in all six of her weight-for-age runs and has won nine of her 13 attempts over the Australia Stakes distance of 1200m.

But the Lee Freedman-trained star does have a couple things against her as she strives to become the first horse to win the Manikato-Lightning-Australia Stakes treble in the same season.

In the 81-year history of the Australia Stakes (formerly known as the William Reid Stakes) no five-year-old mare has ever passed the post first.

And starting favourite, which Miss Andretti is certain to do, may not be an advantage. Favourites have an ordinary recent record in the race with just one of the past 10 favourites - Regimental Gal at $2.80 in 2004 - winning the race.

The tough part is trying to pick which of Miss Andretti's 11 rivals is best placed to deny her victory. Rewaaya was the second favourite in early markets in her quest to go one better than her second placing in last year's race.

Rewaaya will join the great Hareeba as the only horses in the past 40 years to win the Australia Stakes a year after running second if successful tomorrow. A win would also see her join Manikato and Canny Lass as the only horses to have won the Sir Rupert Clark Stakes and Australia Stakes in the same season.

Virage de Fortune, the horse that beat Rewaaya last year, is back for another crack and she will become the seventh multiple winner of the race if Damien Oliver can guide her to back-to-back wins. Oliver, fresh off his first Group 1 win in two years last week on El Segundo, is yet to add the Australia Stakes to his honour roll.

The two Stevens - King and Arnold - have the best Australia Stakes record of jockeys with a ride in this year's race with two wins apiece. King will ride former gun three-year-old Minson, who is having his first start for training partners John Symons and Sheila Laxon, while Arnold will be aboard the Brian Mayfield-Smith-trained Maybe Better, who is having his first start since running third in last year's Emirates Melbourne Cup.

Any Suggestion ran a slashing race behind Miss Andretti in the Lightning Stakes, finishing fourth as a 200-1 shot, and while he is again a longshot on Saturday he has a couple of statistical factors in his favour. He will carry the No 7 saddlecloth, which with five wins, is the most successful saddlecloth of the past 20 years, while his barrier - six - the second-most successful of the same period.

Barrier one, from which New Zealand visitor Gee I Jane will jump, is the most successful barrier of the past 20 years with five wins.

The superstitious may wish to consider the following facts about the Timbercorp Australia Stakes from the past 20 years:

Lucky Saddlecloths	7 (five wins), 8 (four wins)
Jockeys with a ride this year to have won the race	Steven King and Steven Arnold (both two wins)
Lucky Barriers	1 (five wins), 6 (three wins)
Trainers with a runner this year to have won the race	Bruce McLachlan and David Hayes (both one win)
Favourites to Win	4 - last was Regimental Gal in 2004
Longest-priced winner	Toledo at $31 in 2001

If she wasn’t already, Miss Andretti confirmed her reputation as one of Australian racing’s all-time great sprinters with victory in Saturday's $400,000 Group 1 Timbercorp Australia Stakes (1200m). The Lee Freedman-trained superstar created history on several fronts with her win in the second and final Australian leg of the 2007 Global Sprint Challenge. Not only did she become the first five-year-old mare to win the Australia Stakes in the 81-year history of the race, she also became the first horse to snare the Manikato-Lightning-Australia Stakes treble in the same season. She also provided Freedman with his first Australia Stakes win, meaning the Hall of Fame inductee has now won every Victorian Group 1 races at least once. Freedman said it was a memorable win because Miss Andretti was made to work for it. “That was one of her better wins I think because it wasn’t just the walk in the park we thought it was going to be,” Freedman said. “She got into a position where she could have got beaten but she didn’t.” Where Miss Andretti did as she pleased two weeks ago in the Lightning Stakes, she had to pull out all stops in the Timbercorp Australia Stakes. After jumping away well, jockey Craig Newitt settled Miss Andretti near the middle of the field one horse off the fence. Around 400m from home the confident jockey started the urge the mare forward and by the home turn had passed all but tearaway early leader Virage de Fortune who was starting to show signs of tiring. While Miss Andretti reeled her in shortly after straightening, she then had to hold off a spirited challenge from Paul Richards-trained roughie Any Suggestion who finished hard along the rail under the urgings of Brad Rawiller. Any Suggestion, who despite a slashing fourth placing in the Lightning Stakes, again went around at 100-1, got within a length of Miss Andretti inside the 100m mark but the star mare pulled away again and on the line had a length-and-a-quarter to spare. Last year’s runner-up Rewaaya again filled a minor placing, finishing three-and-a-quarter lengths away in third spot, ahead of last year's winner Virage de Fortune. Maybe Better, having his first start since finishing third in last year's Emirates Melbourne Cup, and Lad Of The Manor both ran home well to finish fifth and sixth respectively. Miss Andretti completed a clean sweep of the Australian legs of the 2007 Global Sprint Challenge with her win. While Miss Andretti is still entered for the Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and Golden Shaheen in Dubai during March, Freedman said the only certainty of her future campaign would be a trip to England in June for the Group 2 King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) and the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes (1200m) – the third and fourth legs of the Global Sprint Challenge. “We’re keeping her in those races (Newmarket and Golden Shaheen) but we’re not guaranteeing we’re going anywhere other than we’re going to England, because there’s a lot of things to be considered in the meantime.” $405,000 Group 1 Timbercorp Australia Stakes (1200m)                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Horse Jockey Trainer   1st Miss Andretti  C Newitt  L Freedman    2nd Any Suggestion  B Rawiller  P Richards    3rd Rewaaya  D Dunn  D Hayes    4th Virage de Fortune  D Oliver  B McLachlan

Miss Andretti wins the 2007 Timbercorp Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley Racecourse with jockey Craig Newitt Presentation of the Global Sprint Challenge leg trophy to connections of Miss Andretti

Results of Saturday 3 February's Coolmore Lightning Stakes are below. 

Leaderboard as at   3 February 2007

MISS ANDRETTI STRIKES IN COOLMORE LIGHTNING STAKES

Saturday 3 February 2007

Miss Andretti etched her name into the history books at Moonee Valley on Saturday when she blew her rivals away in the $500,000 Group 1 Coolmore Lightning Stakes (1000m).

The five-year-old joined Dual Choice as the only horse to have won the Manikato Stakes and Lighting Stakes in the same season, breaking the track record in the process.

Her time of 57.22 seconds eclipsed Step Ahead’s previous mark of 57.43, which was set in 2004.

Freedman summed up the thoughts of most post race when assessing Miss Andretti’s performance.  “She’s the best sprinting mare in Australasia at the moment and probably the southern hemisphere,” he said.

Few that saw the race would argue. While jockey Craig Newitt pushed the mare hard from the start after jumping from barrier one, he was happy enough to sit in behind the speed when New Zealand visitor Ticklish and highly-fancied Virage de Fortune vied for the early lead.

Coming to the turn it was obvious Miss Andretti had plenty to offer but it was a matter of whether a run would present itself. That happened when Virage de Fortune weakened at the 150m mark, enabling Miss Andretti to pop off the fence and surge to victory.

She grabbed Magnus, who was being hailed the winner after sweeping the lead rounding the home turn, with 50m to go and pulled away to beat that horse by a length and a quarter.

Ticklish stuck on well for third with 200-1 shot Any Suggestion running home well for fourth.

Newitt was full of praise for the mare who provided him with his sixth Group 1 success.  “She’s a super mare,” he said. “To do what she did today, to pick up and accelerate like she did was great.  Coming to the corner I knew I had a lot of horse under me and it was just a matter of getting a clear run. When she got out she really let down nice.”

Freedman hinted after the race that Miss Andretti was a chance to follow in the footsteps of last year’s Lightning Stakes winner Takeover Target and head to England’s Royal Ascot in June.

The Coolmore Lightning Stakes was the first leg of the $6 million Global Sprint Challenge. A US$1 million bonus is on offer to any horse that contests races in the four countries that host legs of he Global Sprint Challenge and wins Group 1 races in three of those countries.

 “I very much hope she does (make it to England),” Freedman said. “I think she’d be sensational in England and she’d really represent Australia well.”

Newitt was even more bullish about Miss Andretti’s prospects in England.   “I’ve already got my ticket booked,” he joked.

Miss Andretti wins the 2007 Coolmore Lightning Stakes	Miss Andretti with the winner's rug and sash
Connections during the presentation	Lee Freedman and jockey Craig Newitt with the first leg trophy of the 2007 series.

MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday 31 January 2007

GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE RACES INTO 2007

A crack field of sprinters will aim to follow in the footsteps of superstar Takeover Target when they line up in the opening leg of the rich 2007 Global Sprint Challenge on Saturday at Moonee Valley

Heralding the start of the Melbourne Festival of Racing, the 2007 Global Sprint Challenge offers a more than US $6 million in prizemoney and kicks off with the $500,000 Group 1 Coolmore Lightning Stakes (1000m), this year to be run at Moonee Valley due to the closure of Flemington until September. The action returns to Moonee Valley a fortnight later for the second Australian leg – the $400,000 Group 1 Timbercorp Australia Stakes (1200m) on Saturday 17 February.

The series offers a US$1 million bonus to any horse that races in all four countries – Australia, England, Japan and Hong Kong – and wins a Group 1 race in at least three of those countries.

Racing Victoria Limited CEO, Stephen Allanson, said the Global Sprint Challenge has added a significant dimension to the world sprinting calendar.

“Australia’s involvement in the series reinforces the importance of our nation’s racing in a global context and the opening two races of this prestigious international series will again be held on our turf,” Allanson said.  

“The recent deeds of Takeover Target to claim the 2006 Global Sprint Challenge Championship have further pushed our racing into the global limelight.”

The seven race program of the 2007 Global Sprint Challenge is as follows

6-

$500,000 GROUP 1 COOLMORE LIGHTNING STAKES

1000 M

No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barr	Wgt
1	DANCE THE WAVES	Gillian Heinrich	Brad Stewart	7	58.5
2	MAGNUS	Peter Moody	Luke Nolen	8	58.5
3	CALIFORNIA DANE	Lee Freedman	Corey Brown	4	58.5
4	ANY SUGGESTION	Paul Richards	Brad Rawiller	9	58.5
5	STRADA	Gai Waterhouse	Chris Munce	3	58.5
6	MISS ANDRETTI	Lee Freedman	Craig Newitt	1	56
7	VIRAGE DE FORTUNE	Bruce McLachlan	Damien Oliver	6	56
8	REWAAYA	David Hayes	Dwayne Dunn	5	56
9	TICKLISH	Steven Pinfold	Greg Childs	2	56

REWAAYA BACK FOR ANOTHER CRACK

If the experience of having already confronted the hustle and bustle of Australia’s only 1000m Group 1 race counts for anything, Rewaaya is the horse to beat in this Saturday’s $500,000 Coolmore Lightning Stakes at Moonee Valley.

The four-year-old daughter of Singspiel is the only 2006 Lightning Stakes contestant back to have another crack at the race in 2007.

Rewaaya finished fourth behind Takeover Target, God’s Own and Cape Of Good Hope, beaten just over a length, as a filly in last year’s Lightning Stakes. Trainer David Hayes has plenty of reason to think she will again be around the mark.

“I’m really happy with the way she’s come back,” Hayes said.

“She’s going better than she ever has and she wasn’t too far off them last year, so we expect her to run well.”

Rewaaya will be having her first start since finishing unplaced as a $3.50 favourite in the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington on 4 November.

FIRST-UP THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

Being first-up is one advantage Rewaaya has over some of her rivals if recent history is anything to go by. Incredibly, the past nine winners of the Lightning Stakes were all having their first run back from a spell.

Rewaaya is one of six entries who will be first-up should they start on Saturday. California Dane, Excites, Magnus, Miss Andretti and Virage de Fortune, who hasn’t started since the Doomben 10,000 in May last year, are the others set to resume from a spell on Saturday.

DANCE THE WAVES CHASING HISTORY

The Gillian Heinrich-trained Dance The Waves will sit alongside two of Australia’s all-time great sprinters if he wins Saturday’s race.

The son of Hennessy is striving to join Schillaci (1993) and Zeditave (1989) as the only horses to have won the Rubiton Stakes and Lightning Stakes in the same year.

The Queensland-based gelding enters this Saturday’s feature in a rich vein of form having won his past three starts, culminating with the Group 3 Rubiton Stakes on 13 January.

Dance The Waves would also join Sports, Mahogany, Redelva, Wenona Girl and Copper Year as the oldest Lightning Stakes winners - at six years of age.

Dance The Waves is one of two six-year-olds nominated for this year’s Lightning, along with Steven Pinfold-trained New Zealand mare Ticklish.

The daughter of Maroof, a winner of eight of her 30 starts, will be having her first start in Australia if she runs in the Lightning Stakes. At her last outing she finished fifth of 13 behind Darci Brahma in the Group 1 Telegraph Handicap (1200m).

MISS ANDRETTI AFTER HER OWN RARE DOUBLE

Dance The Waves is not the only horse who will notch a rare double if successful in the Coolmore Lightning Stakes. Miss Andretti will become only the second horse to have completed the Manikato Stakes-Lightning Stakes double in the same season if successful on Saturday.

The Lee Freedman-trained mare, who won the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley in September, is out to emulate the feat of Dual Choice, who followed up her win in the 1970 Manikato Stakes with victory in the 1971 Lightning Stakes.

Spinning Hill and Century are the only other two horses to have won both the Manikato Stakes and Lightning Stakes. Spinning Hill won both races in 2002, while Century won the Manikato Stakes as a three-year-old in 1972 and the Lightning Stakes as a four-year-old in 1974.

Miss Andretti should relish this year’s move of the Lightning Stakes from Flemington to Moonee Valley. Along with last year’s Manikato Stakes win, the five-year-old’s only other start at the track resulted in a win in the Group 3 Ian McEwen Trophy (1000m) in August.

OLIVER LOOKING FOR HIGH FIVE

Damien Oliver will be looking to further enhance his already impressive Coolmore Lightning Stakes record when he takes the reins aboard Queensland mare Virage de Fortune for the first time on Saturday.

Oliver, with four wins, has by far the most successful record in the race of any of the current-day riders. But he hasn’t tasted Lightning Stakes success since scoring a barnstorming win aboard Testa Rossa in 2000.

Oliver’s other Lightning Stakes winners came via Schillaci (1992/93) and Gold Ace (1996).

Glen Boss and Steven King are the only other present-day riders to have tasted multiple success in the Lightning Stakes, having won the race twice each.

Lee Freedman, trainer of three of Oliver’s Lightning Stakes winners, has the best record of trainers with nominations for this year’s race.

While Bart Cummings holds the Lightning Stakes record with eight winners, he doesn’t have a runner this year. Freedman, a five-time winner of the Lightning Stakes, has Miss Andretti and California Dane entered for this year’s race.

Freedman’s winners were Schillaci (1992/93), Gold Ace (1996) and Mahogany (1995 and 1997).

2006 GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE CHAMPION - TAKEOVER TARGET

Mr Lawrence T Wong, CEO of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, together with Mr Douglas Erskine-Crum, CE of the Ascot Racecourse Ltd; Mr Masayuki Takahashi, President & CEO of the Japan Racing Association; Mr Stephen Allanson, CEO of Racing Victoria Ltd; present a trophy from the 2006 Global Sprint Challenge to Mr Joe Janiak, trainer of Takeover Target.

His Global Sprint Challenge campaign might have ended in heartbreak, but there is no mistaking the impact Takeover Target had on the series with his remarkable deeds in 2006.

 His ability to remain a live chance to take out the lucrative US$1 million bonus right up until the final race in the seven-race series has proven to trainers around the world that it is possible for a horse satisfy the testing criteria required to claim the bonus.

 It was just a pity Takeover Target didn’t get one last fling at the bonus. He was an 11th-hour scratching from the $2 million Hong Kong Sprint after traces of the banned substance 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone hexanoate were detected in his system on the day of the race.

Takeover Target’s quest for the Global Sprint Challenge bonus was the headline story of the 2006 Hong Kong International Raceday.

To be eligible for the bonus, a horse must first contest a race in each of the four countries – Australia, England, Japan and Hong Kong - that host a leg of the Global Sprint Challenge, which runs from February through to December.

But the horse must then win a Group 1 race in at least three of those countries.

While he didn’t quite pull it off, Takeover Target came awfully close.

After winning the opening leg of the series, the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington in February, Takeover Target travelled to England where he won the Group 2 King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) before finishing third in the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes (1200m) during June.

It was then on to Japan where Takeover Target finished second to star mare She Is Tosho in the Group 2 Centaur Stakes (1200m) before bouncing back to keep his Global Sprint Challenge bonus hopes alive with victory in the Group 1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) on Sunday 1 October.

That meant a win in the final race of the series, the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint, would have secured Takeover Target the bonus.

While it didn’t end as most would have liked, Leigh Jordon, Director of Racing Operations at Racing Victoria Limited, which co-ordinates the Global Sprint Challenge, said Takeover Target’s campaign was still a boon for the series.

“Series like the Global Sprint Challenge need horses to be challenging for the rich incentives that are on offer, so it was therefore tremendous to see Takeover Target acquit himself so well all over the world in 2006,” Jordon said.

“It is a great promotional tool for the series and I think what Takeover Target has been able to achieve will ensure interest remains high and trainers look seriously at tackling the series in years to come.”

The 2007 Global Sprint Challenge again kicks off with the $500,000 Group 1 Lightning Stakes, to be run at the Valley (on Saturday 3 February) due to trackwork being carried out at Flemington, with the second Australian leg the $400,000 Group 1 Timbercorp Australia Stakes (1200m) on Saturday 17 February.

FINAL LEADERBOARD AS AT 10 December 2006

TOP 10

Takeover Target           53*

Benbaun                     17*

She is Tosho               13*

Les Arcs                     13*

Silent Witness             11*

Absolute Champion      10

Virage de Fortune         10

Meisho Bowler               8*

Cape of Good Hope        8*

Rewaaya                       8

* Double points are awarded for horses competing in Group 1 races outside their racing jurisdiction.

Absolute Champion show in Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint

10 December 2006

ABSOLUTE CHAMPION smashed the track record in a scintillating performance in the HK$12million Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint.

The David Hall-trained five-year-old representing Hong Kong lowered the record he set in October by three-tenths of a second, recording a time of 1m 7.8 sec.

Brett Prebble had Absolute Champion held up in midfield off a scorching pace in the early stages but when the leaders straightened up for home it was clear Absolute Champion was cruising and once Prebble asked his charge to quicken, he burst clear to win by a massively impressive four-and-a-quarter lengths from former dual winner, Silent Witness and the British challenger, Benbaun.

Absolute Champion continued the incredible run of victories by Australian-bred horses in this race. They have won every Sprint since the race began in 1999.

David Hall said: "It would have been pretty hard to say that he could have improved after his last run when he broke the track record but somehow he's done it. I was very disappointed that he wasn't selected for the race in the first place as I thought there were no ifs and buts about it when he you break a track record. He's proved it now.

"That's one of the most impressive wins that I've seen for a long time and it's sweet when it's your own. I know that he had a bit of a reputation before he came to my stable but maybe he just enjoyed the switch. Adding the side-winkers has probably had an effect as well."

Hall is in his third season in Hong Kong and won the Melbourne Cup in 2003 with Makybe Diva. He also prepared Silent Witness before today's runner-up switched to Hong Kong. 

Photo 1 & 2:   Absolute Champion (Brett Prebble) prevails in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint (International Group 1-1200M) with a 4 1/4 lengths margin from Silent Witness.

Absolute Champion's connections celebrate a record-breaking (1.07.8) win.

MEDIA RELEASE

Tuesday 5 December 2006

GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE BONUS

IS TAKEOVER’S TARGET

Takeover Target’s quest for the US$1 million Global Sprint Challenge bonus will be played out in Hong Kong this Sunday when the Australian sprint sensation takes his place in the HK$12 million Group 1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin Racecourse.

The Joe Janiak-trained gelding will become the first horse in the brief history of the Global Sprint Challenge to claim the rich bonus if successful in Sunday’s race, which signals the end of this year’s seven-race series.

In its second year, the Global Sprint Challenge offers a bonus to any horse who contests a Group 1 race in all four competing countries and is successful at Group 1 level in three of those countries.

After winning the opening leg of the series, the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington in February, Takeover Target travelled to England where he won the Group 2 King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) before finishing third in the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes (1200m) during June.

It was then on to Japan where Takeover Target finished second to local star She Is Tosho in the Group 2 Centaur Stakes (1200m) before bouncing back to keep his Global Sprint Challenge bonus hopes alive with victory in the Group 1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) on Sunday 1 October.

In Australia both TVN and Sky Channel will televise the Hong Kong International Raceday with coverage commencing at around 4pm AEST. The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint is scheduled for race five on the program and will be run at 6.10pm AEST.

Buoyed by the success of this year’s series, the Global Sprint Challenge will again run in 2007, kicking off with the Lightning Stakes on Saturday 3 February. The AUD $405,000 Group 1 Timbercorp Australia Stakes (1200m) on Saturday 17 February will again be the second Australian leg.

Both of Australia’s Global Sprint Challenge races will be run at Moonee Valley in 2007 due to track work being carried out at Flemington, the regular home of the Lightning Stakes.

TAKEOVER TARGET TOUCHES DOWN IN HONG KONG

Thursday 19 October 2006

Takeover Target arrived safely in Hong kong this afternoon and as with all of his other flights and he has taken it in his stride.  Trainer Joe Janiak accompanied the him for the entire journey.  

He has become the first horse to visit all four Global Sprint Challenge countries.

Takeover Target will serve quarantine at Sha Tin Racecourse's quarantine facility, where he will remain until he competes in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint on 10 December 2006.

He is settling in well and will have his first spin around the Sha Tin track on Monday morning.

MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday 19 October 2006

 GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE RACES TOWARDS 2007

The four partners of the Global Sprint Challenge – Ascot Racecourse Limited, Hong Kong Jockey Club, Japan Racing Association and Racing Victoria Limited – have conducted a review of its structure to improve the series in 2007.

The Global Sprint Challenge review investigated the length of the series, the timing of each race, the legs within each of the countries and each of its race conditions.

Moonee Valley Racing Club’s Group 1 Timbercorp Australia Stakes (1200m) will remain Australia’s second leg of the international sprint series and the Victoria Racing Club’s Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) will now not be included as a part of the 2007 Global Sprint Challenge.

This news comes as Australia’s Takeover Target was announced the world’s top ranked turf sprinter with a ranking of 121 in the World's Leading Horses, which is compiled by the World Rankings Supervisory Committee and published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).

The Joe Janiak-trained gelding has already secured the title of 2006 Global Sprint Challenge Champion by claiming victory in three out of the six races contested. He can claim the US$1 million bonus for winning three Group 1 races in three separate countries by winning the Group 1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin Racecourse on 10 December.

Takeover Target, who arrives in Hong Kong today, will become the first horse to win a Global Sprint Challenge race in each of the four countries with a victory at Sha Tin.

The seven race program of the 2007 Global Sprint Challenge is as follows

LEADERBOARD AS AT 1 October 2006

RIGHT ON TARGET: Janiak captures Sprint Challenge title

1 October 2006

Takeover Target romped to the second Global Sprint Challenge title on Sunday afternoon, the Joseph Janiak-trained gelding winning the Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse, Chiba Prefecture.

Favorite Target hit the wire two-and-a-half lengths ahead of Yuichi Fukunaga’s runner-up Meisho Bowler to cement his Sprint Challenge victory, collecting 20 points for a total of 53 points with one race remaining.

Target can cash in a US$ 1 million bonus if he wins the Hong Kong Sprint on Dec. 10, which would give him three G1 wins in three different countries.

“I knew he was 110 percent fit, I knew he’d give 110 percent because that’s what it would take to win this race because he’s up against the best,” Janiak said during the post-race press conference.

“As it turned out, the jockey put in a 110 percent ride and all in all, it turned out nice for us.”

Jockey Jay Ford turned in a bold performance aboard the 7-year-old Australian entry, jousting with inaugural Sprint Challenge champion Silent Witness for the lead early on and never looking back down the straight to tip the clock at 1 minute, 8.1 seconds in 1,200 meters.

“I’m very excited,” said Ford, who handed Target his 13th victory in 23 starts. “It’s good to see the horse come out, everyone seeing him at his best. The horse raced fantastic, and he showed that at the end of the day he was too strong.”

Hong Kong hero Witness came in fourth after a photo finish with long-shot Tagano Bastille. Benbaun, another gelding, rounded out the board in fifth.

“He’s on his way back,” said Witness’ trainer Tony Cruz, whose horse remains without a single win in five races this year.

She is Tosho, the second favorite and winner of the Grade 2 Centaur Stakes on Sept. 10, fizzled to eighth among the field of 16.

Target and Witness set a furious first-half pace, clocking 32.7 seconds through the first three furlongs. Target rounded the final bend in front but showed no signs of slowing down, even on the Nakayama hill.

Target overcame an outside barrier (posted in No. 13) and a cut-up track, which had listed the turf to be in excellent condition despite light rain throughout the day.

“We drew a bit awkward gate but this horse has good gate speed,” Ford said. “He’s just so strong, he tries every time.

“We were as confident as we could be. The horse definitely had improved off his last race in the Centaur Stakes, so we were going into the race confident that he would run well. We were confident, but there is always that fear.

“We were always going to ride our horse the same, regardless of where Silent Witness went. Our horse is a horse that likes to get in front and get going, so at the end of the day, it didn’t really faze us what happened. We were doing what we were always doing.”

TRAINING REPORT, The 40th SPRINTERS STAKES (GI) the sixth leg of Global Sprint Challenge- Training Report of
Foreign Entries

30 September 2006

TAKEOVER TARGET (AUS, 7g. bay)

-- jogged 1/2 lap, lightly cantered 1/2 lap
(exercised from 6:40 to 6:46 on dirt, ridden by Luke Pepper)

“We’ve done our best in tuning up the horse and I’m sure that he’ll give us 110%. We have faith in him and how he’ll do tomorrow. He’s a very smart horse, so as long as he breaks well, he’ll show us a great race.”

(Comments taken from Joseph Janiak)

SILENT WITNESS (AUS, 7g. bay)

--jogged 2 laps
(exercised from 6:39 to 6:55 on dirt, ridden by Wai Mo)

“Including his physical condition and form, everything has worked out as planned. All we have to do now is to wait for the race to turn out the way we’d like.”

(Comments taken from Anthony S. Cruz)

LES ARCS (USA, 6g. dark bay or brown)

-- jogged 1 1/4 lap, cantered 1/2 lap, jogged 1/2 lap, cantered 3/4 lap
(exercised from 6:38 to 6:56, ridden by Andrew Smith)

“Since the horse was fresh and full of pep, we took him out to the tracks and gave him pretty much to do this morning. I’m satisfied with the condition he’s in.”

“His noisy breathing after workout isn’t any kind of disorder to worry about (it’s not a wind problem).”

“Compared to the other horses, especially the foreign contenders, I think we’re very lucky with the draw (post position 3), and we hope that we can make the most of this advantage.”

(Comments taken from Timothy Pitt)

BENBAUN (IRE, 5g. bay)

--cantered 6F
(exercised from 6:36 to 6:45 on dirt, ridden by Steeve Gaillard)

“He’s perfectly tuned up. He’s good at sustaining his strength and physical and mental condition so we’re not worried at all.”

“If he breaks sharply we hope he’ll travel in mid division before making his move. We’re looking forward to showing a great performance.”

(Comments taken from Mark Wallace)

Interview with Joseph Janiak, trainer of Takeover Target

30 September 2006

With one hand on the Global Sprint Challenge and the US$1 million bonus, Joseph Janiak has ridden into Japan with Takeover Target for Sunday afternoon’s Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse, Chiba (1,200 meters, post time 3:40 p.m.). Janiak, the tax driver-turned owner-trainer from Down Under, has all but sewn up the second Sprint Challenge title with his 7-year-old gelding, owning a 22-point lead over American Les Arcs ahead of the Sprinters Stakes. Victory on Sunday would ensure Target as the second Sprint Challenge champion after Hong Kong’s Silent Witness with one race remaining, and would qualify him for the bonus—giving him a requisite three G1 victories in three different countries. We sat down and talked with the 59-year-old Janiak ahead of the sixth leg of the Sprint Challenge, which will draw a field of 16 including the defending champion Witness. Target came in second behind She Is Tosho in his tune-up on Sept. 1, the Centaur Stakes at Chukyo Racecourse, but Janiak remains confident his horse will rebound.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO RACING?

Joseph Janiak: As a kid I was always interested in ponies, and I couldn’t afford to have ponies but a few of my friends had horses so I used to out after them for them and taught myself how to ride. When I started working after a while, I had an interest, I bought a share in a couple of horses. I’d have trainers train them for me, and that went on for a couple of years and had a couple of big wins, and got really interested in it. I saw the way that they were training, and I thought, ‘I might be able to do a bit better.’ I’ve had reasonable success, nothing fantastic.

YOU USED TO BE A TAX DRIVER?
JJ: I’ve still got a tax license, but because of all the traveling with the horse I haven’t driven a taxi now for a couple of years, yeah but I used to drive a taxi for a couple of years.

HOW IS TAKEOVER TARGET ADJUSTING TO JAPAN?
JJ: He’s done good. He’s been eating well and everything else. You got to understand, it’s very limited to what you can do in quarantine, in Shiroi. You’re working sprinters in maybe six or eight inches of sand, and it’s just pulling on their muscles. They’re not used to that sort of thing when I work out horses.

He’s done excellent work, I’m very happy with the way he’s done. He’s put on a little bit of weight, but only because we’ve started training properly. He’s just a tough of a horse, and still tries his best.

IS TARGET IN BETTER FORM THAN AT THE CENTAUR STAKES?
JJ: For sure. And this way of going, (jockey Jay Ford) got off him this morning say he just feels terrific going the opposite way. That’s his favorite way of racing.

WHERE WILL TARGET BE POSITIONED?
JJ: He can lead because he’s got plenty of speed. He can lead, but I think there might be a lot of speed in the race, so we might just sit off the pace. We’ve drawn a bad barrier, it’s not going to help us. But that’s racing.

TARGET FINISHED THREE LENGTHS BEHIND SHE IS TOSHO AT THE CENTAUR. CAN HE CLOSE THE GAP?
JJ: I think he’ll improve on that, for sure. Like I said, he’s not used to going that way. He’s only ever raced twice that way. It was a nice track but about 15 minutes before the race, we had a big downpour. We drew 11 on that day again so we had to come out wide, use him up early and he’s led all the way until about the last half a furlong.

WHO WILL TARGET HAVE TO BEAT?
JJ: There’s another Japanese horse(Orewa Matteruze) who’s really good he’s got a really funny name. He’s better than She Is Tosho. Silent Witness is starting to become good again, he’s going to be a big danger. From what I heard, he’s lost a lot of early speed, so he’s going to try to come from behind. He’ll be different in coming home, for sure.

IS 1,200 TARGET’S BEST DISTANCE?
JJ: He’s won most of his races at 1,200. Of the 12 races that he’s won, 10 of them are at 1,200.

TARGET WILL RUN WITH 57 KILOGRAMS, DOWN TWO KGS FROM THE CENTAUR. WILL THIS HELP, AND HOW WILL HE LIKE NAKAYAMA?
JJ: A bit of a help. The weight will probably make a little bit of a difference, but we’ve got the disadvantage of the barrier. Nakayama’s not too bad compared to England, where the hill is twice as bad as Nakayama. One of the races at Newmarket, the hill runs like that. He drew a bad barrier again, ended up finishing seventh. I think it’s the worst run he’s had in England but he only got beat by two lengths there. He can handle it, so I don’t think the ride is going to worry him. A lot of them will probably sit, and then fly home in that last furlong. The horses that have gear will speed up early, will be stopping and when the other ones are coming home.

WILL YOU BRING TARGET BACK NEXT YEAR?
JJ: When I get back from here, I don’t know what the future is with Target—we like to think he’s got another 12 months of racing in him. We hope to come back here next year, especially England, and maybe do the series again. But if we have to retire him, I’ll go up to this new stable I bought in Coffs Harbour, it’s on the north coast of (NSW,) Australia. I’ve got 10 stables there, I’ll have 10 horse there all the time.

2006 Centaur Stakes

TRAINING REPORT, The 40th SPRINTERS STAKES (GI) the sixth leg of Global Sprint Challenge- Training Report of Foreign Entrees

27 September 2006

TAKEOVER TARGET (AUS, 7g. bay)

-- jogged 1 lap, cantered 1/2 lap, cantered stronger, galloped
< 78.6 (6F) - 62.7 (5F) – 48.3 (4F) – 35.4 (3F) – 12.3 (1F) >
(exercised from 7:45 to 7:58 on turf, ridden by Luke Pepper)

"Last night's rain didn't affect his performance this morning. This horse can adjust to almost any kind of going, and we were happy with his workout today. He'll have an easy workout tomorrow and the jockey, Jay Ford, will ride him on Friday."

(Comments taken from Joseph Janiak)

SILENT WITNESS (AUS, 7g. bay)

--lighly cantered 2 laps
(exercised from 7:44 to 7:58 on dirt, ridden by Wai Mo)

"I was worried that the horse might stumble due to the muddy course (his partner Shang Hai King stumbled 3 times), but he was well balanced."
"We plan to take him out on the turf tomorrow because the dirt condition is bad due to the rain. He'll have a strong gallop using the starting gates."
"The reason why we brought Shang Hai King along is so that Silent Witness stays calm during the journey."

(Comments taken from Anthony Cruz)

BENBAUN (IRE, 5g. bay) and LES ARCS (USA, 6g. dark bay or brown) were transferred to the International Stables of Nakayama Racecourse this morning, leaving the Shiroi Quarantine Facilities at 10:00 and arriving at the racecourse at 10:45. Comments from their connections taken upon arrival are as follows;

LES ARCS (USA, 6g. dark bay or brown)

"The trip from the quarantine facilities was very smooth."
"Timothy Pitt, the trainer, and the jockey Eric Saint-Martin will arrive, as planned, tomorrow."
"The horse will be cantered tomorrow on turf and then be galloped with the jockey riding him on Friday."
"Everything is going well with him since our arrival."
"We need to pay careful attention to all the horses in the race, however I think he's the one who can beat them all."

(comments taken from Toni Syddall)

BENBAUN (IRE, 5g. bay)

"The horse is in great condition. He was calm and settled during the ride from the quarantine center. There's nothing that bothers me about his condition at this point."
"We will canter him tomorrow, on which track depends on the going. Mark Wallace, the trainer, arrives this afternoon, so the horse's specific training will be decided with him."
"The jockey, Daragh O'Donohoe, arrives Saturday morning."

(comments taken from Steeve Gaillard)

After morning training tomorrow (Sept. 28), interviews of the trainers for TAKEOVER TARGET and SILENT WITNESS will take place at the No. 14 stables of Nakayama Racecourse.

Interviews of the trainers for LES ARCS and BENBAUN will take place at the same time, same place on Friday (Sept. 29).

The 40th Sprinters Stakes - Handicapper's Report on the Japanese Contenders

26 September 2006

The 40th SPRINTERS STAKES, which enters its second year as part of the Global Sprint Challenge, will be contested in the company of some of the top sprinters in the world who have accumulated points throughout the series which makes them eligible for this year's GSC champion title as well as the US$1million bonus.

Current leader of the series is Takeover Target (AUS, 7g, by Celtic Swing) with 33 points while Les Arcs (USA, 6g, by Arch) follows in second with 11 points. Japanese raider, She Is Tosho is tied for third place with 10 points. Other foreign contenders running in the race include Benbaun (IRE, 5g, by Stravinsky) tied for 8th with 5 points and last year's Sprinters Stakes winner Silent Witness (AUS, 7g, by El Moxie). All four contestants who have proven to meet top international standards will be a challenge for the Japanese sprinters among which I have picked up a few that could be considered to have a good chance for this year's title.

She Is Tosho (JPN, 6m, by Sakura Bakushin O, rating: 112 S) landed her fifth grade-race victory in her last start, the Centaur Stakes (JPN-GII) in grand style, traveling from behind the pace setters then exerting a good kick after the last turn that allowed her to overtake her rivals that included GSC series leader, Takeover Target, then further widen her margin to three-lengths. Although she has always run well at Chukyo Racecourse, her starts at Nakayama have not yet marked favorable results in the past. Her chances in the coming race will depend on whether she is able to perform up to the same standard as she did in her last start.

Orewa Matteruze (JPN, 6h, by Sunday Silence, rating: 114 S-M) was sent to post favorite in the Yasuda Kinen (GI, 1,600m) this spring, after two consecutive grade-race victories in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (JPN GI, 1,200m) and the Keio Hai Spring Cup (GII, 1,400m), but finished a disappointing 10th. He has not raced since the mile race, but has been kept in training. If he is up to his form, obviously, he should have a good chance to win the race.

Symboli Escape (JPN, 5h, by Sakura Bakushin O, rating: 100 M) is one of the recent up-and-coming sprinters, who have come off an impressive victory in his previous start against open company. His sire, Sakura Bakushin O, is a two-time title holder of the Sprinters Stakes during 1993-1994 and has produced many outstanding sprinters.

Venus Line (JPN, 5m, by Fuji Kiseki, rating: 104 S), who exhibited an impressive kick in the stretch to mark her first grade-race win in the Hakodadate Sprint Stakes (JPN-GIII, 1,200m) and Cheerful Smile (JPN, 6m, by Sunday Silence, rating: 103 S) who won the Keeneland Cup (JPN-GIII,. 1,200m) have both beaten She Is Tosho in their respective victories and are worth looking out for in the coming race.

Lastly, one of the most promising of the three-year-old generation in the race would be Suteki Shinsukekun (USA, 3c by Danzig, rating 106 M) who won wire-to-wire in his last start in the Keisei Hai Autumn Handicap (JPN-GIII, 1,600m)—it was his second grade-race victory after the Arlington Cup (JPN-GIII, 1,600m) in February this year. A Danzig colt possessing outstanding speed, Suteki Shinsukekun is a still growing three-year-old that can handle distances between 1,200m to a mile.

ARRIVAL REPORT and TRAINING REPORT, The 40th SPRINTERS STAKES (GI) the sixth leg of Global Sprint Challenge- Training Report of Foreign Entrees

25 September 2006

TAKEOVER TARGET (AUS, 7g. bay) arrived safely at Narita Airport at 11:54 on August 31, and was transported to the quarantine facilities in Shiroi leaving the airport at 13:30 and arriving at Shiroi at 14:45. The horse was transported to Chukyo racecourse to race in Centaur Stakes, the fifth of Global Sprint Challenge, on September 6.

TAKEOVER TARGET showed his consistent performance, placing the runner-up of SHE IS TOSHO, who became the first champion of the SUMMER SPRINT SERIES established this year by JRA, in the race. The horse acquiring 5 points in the race, stands on top with 33 points, with two more G1 races remaining (Sprinters Stakes in Japan; Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint in Hong Kong) in the GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE. TAKEOVER TARGET was transported to Nakayama racecourse on September 12.

SILENT WITNESS (AUS, 7g, bay) arrived at Narita Airport at 14:37 on Sept. 20. He was transferred to Shiroi Quarantine Facilities on the same day leaving the airport at 16:05 arriving at Shiroi at 17:22. SILENT WITNESS is scheduled to be transferred to Nakayama Racecourse on Sept. 26.

"It took about 4 hours to get to Narita Airport from Hong Kong. He doesn't show any tiredness from the trip and is in good condition."
"He's lost some weight but actually it's not bad because he had gained some excess weight recently."

(Comments taken by Wai Mo)

BENBAUN (IRE, 5g. bay) and LES ARCS (USA, 6g. dark bay or brown) arrived at Narita Airport at 11:11 on Sept. 21 and were transported to Shiroi Quarantine Facilities leaving the airport at 13:00 and arriving safely there at 14:15. Both horses are scheduled to be transported to Nakayama Racecourse on Sept. 27.

"The direct flight took about 12 hours."
"The horse is in fair shape after the journey."
"We won't take him out to the tracks tomorrow but just walk him around the stables."

(Comments taken by Steve Gaillard, connections of BENBAUN)

"Our flight was with BENBAUN and it took the same 12 hours. It was a smooth flight."
"His condition after the trip is pretty good."
"Tomorrow, we intend to just walk him around the stables and not go out to the tracks."

(Comments taken by Tony Syddall, connections of LES ARCS)

Trackwork at Nakayama Racecourse

25 September 2006

TAKEOVER TARGET (AUS, 7g. bay)

-- jogged 1 lap, galloped 1 lap
(exercised from 7:46 to 7:59 on turf, ridden by Luke Pepper)

"It felt wonderful riding him this morning. He's a very sweet horse."

(Comments taken from Luke Pepper)

"He's healthy and is in good shape. He's adjusted to the atmosphere here at Nakayama very well. We're thinking of doing a strong gallop on Wednesday."

(Comments taken from Joseph Janiak)

SPRINTERS STAKES(GI) : Oct. 1, 2006 (Sun) Nakayama 11R 1,200m turf

Schedule of Training at Nakayama Racecourse: Weekdays (Mon~Fri): 7:40 – 8:20 Race days (Sat., Sun.) : 6:30 – 7:00

Sprinters Stakes (G1) - 6th leg of the Global Sprint Challenge

23 September 2006

2005 Sprinters Stakes Winner, Silent Witness

The Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) will be run for the 40th time on Sunday 1st October, and once again the penultimate leg of the Global Sprint Challenge is promising to be one of the best sprinting races anywhere in the world. Last year, champion Hong Kong sprinter Silent Witness recorded a devastating win in the event, and this year he is back to defend his title.

He is not the only international challenger though, as Takeover Target (another Australian born 7yo gelding) lines up to increase his lead in the Challenge after being beaten into 2nd at his first Japanese outing in the Centaur Stakes by the classy Japanese sprinting mare She is Tosho, who will also line up here. In addition, a European flavor has been added to the race with the arrival of Les Arcs and Benbaun from the United Kingdom. In particular, Les Arcs has proved himself as one of Europe’s top sprinters by beating Takeover Target when winning the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The Sprinters Stakes was established in 1967, the straight forward name being chosen as the race was originally the only Grade race over 1200m. Originally established as a Grade 3 race, the race was upgraded to Grade 1 status in 1990 and has had some very good winners including the amazing Japanese sprinter Sakura Bakushin O (now champion sprinting sire in Japan) who won consecutive Sprinters Stakes in 1993 & 1994, the Prix Jacques Le Marois (Group 1 in France) winning Taiki Shuttle in 1997, the powerful finisher Durandal in 2003, the exceptionally fast Carlston Light O in 2004 before Silent Witness was successful last year.

The 1200m course at Nakayama Racecourse (just outside Tokyo) is a demanding one. The outside turf track which is used for this event is approximately 1840m in circumference, with the 1200m course composed of a downhill 200m run to the first gradual turn which continues for 400m before the final sharp turn which leads into the 310m straight. There is a sharp uphill ascent in the final 200m which can really test the leaders.

There are 25 nominations (including the 4 overseas runners) for the race which has a capacity field of 16. Below is a summary of the key Japanese horses expected to be favored on the 1st October:

Orewa Matteruze: A sprinting son of the mighty Sunday Silence. He has had a very fruitful 2006 so far winning the Group 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen, the feature Sprint race of the Spring Carnival in Japan. That was his only try over 1200m, and although he failed in the Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen after that, he did have excuses. He resumes here, and has to be respected.

She is Tosho: Impressed when beating Takeover Target in the Centaur Stakes last start, but did have everything in her favor – she has a great record at that track (Chukyo) and the rain just before the race seemed to suit her perfectly. This is a much tougher course, and a tougher field, but she has been very consistent recently and she must be considered a chance here.

Venus Line: Surprised everyone when winning a Grade 3 1200m sprint in Hakodate two starts back at 77/1. Followed up with a nice effort last start when closing late in the same grade once again in Hokkaido behind Cheerful Smile and She is Tosho, and if she can bring her form back down to the mainland, she has to be given a chance. The hill in the straight at Nakayama looks likely to help her chances.

Golden Cast: Winner of the Centaur Stakes last year when it was run at the Hanshin racecourse as part of the 2005 Global Sprinting Challenge. Had been struggling since in Grade company, but comes into this race winning three starts back, finishing 2nd in a Grade 3 1200m race at Kokura racecourse two starts back, before running on fairly in the Centaur Stakes last start.

Homan Tequila: Is always popular with the fans due to his consistent performances such as his 3rd last start in a Grade 3 1200m sprint, and a narrow second in this race last year (when at Hanshin) behind Golden Cast. This does seem to be a tougher assignment though, and he hasn’t won for over a year.

Limitless Bid: A 7yo son of Sunday Silence who burst onto the scene with successive Group wins over 1200m then 1400m – both on dirt. Has since been running fairly in turf sprints, and his last start effort was very impressive, finishing 4th behind She is Tosho and Takeover Target on an unsuitable track. The 1200m at Nakayama should be better for him, and he will finishing on very strongly in the final straight.

Maruka Kiseki: One of the top sprinters in Japan in 2005 – including a very good 4th in the Group 1 Sprinters Stakes behind Silent Witness. He had been disappointing ever since that run, but he showed he may be getting back to his best with a fast finishing 5th behind She is Tosho and Takeover Target on a track where he had never performed well in the past. He is better at Nakayama, so if he gets a start here, he may well be a knockout chance.

Cheerful Smile: Finished too well for She is Tosho in Hokkaido over 1200m, and this course looks to suit even better. Has emerged as a strong backmarking sprinter and although this is a much harder test, she is sure to have supporters here.

Suteki Shinsukekun: A beautifully bred Danzig 3yo colt who has showed a real liking for this Nakayama course. Was originally pushed towards the classics and therefore has been running over middle distances, but last start led all the way over 1600m in a Grade 3 against the older horses at this track. Probably will not be able to lead here, which is a concern, but he is bred to handle the 1200m, and he did win at this distance on debut as a 2yo.

Nakayama Racecourse

UK Sprinters arrive safely

22 September 2006

Tim Pitt trained LES ARCS, flew into Japan on Thursday 21 September from UK and arrived at the Quarantine Centre.After winning two group one races consecutively in UK including the 4th leg of the Global Sprint Challenge, the six year old gelding is aiming for the Japanese leg and chasing after the current leader of the Challenge points table, Takeover Target.“The transport was quite smooth including the 12 hours flight.” said the track rider Toni Syddall.

The other contender from UK, BENBAUN, trained by Mark Wallace, winning a group three race and being a runner-up four times in his last five starts, arrived in the same flight as Les Arcs. The groom Steve Gaillard said after arriving at the quarantine centre that condition was not bad with his horse.

Both horses will leave the quarantine and move to the Nakayama Racecourse on Wednesday 27th.

Results of International horses who have run in the Sprinters Stakes

21 September 2006

SILENT WITNESS back in Japan

20 September 2006

SILENT WITNESS, winner of the 2005 Sprinters Stakes arrived in Japan on Wednesday 20th from Hong Kong with his training partner, aiming for his back to back victory in the Japanese leg of the Global Sprint Challenge.

Wai Mo, working for trainer Tony Cruz, mentioned at the Quarantine Centre that the horse’s condition was alright after the four hour air transport.

LEADERBOARD AS AT 10 September 2006

* Double points are awarded for horses competing in Group 1 races outside their racing jurisdiction.

RESULT OF THE 20TH CENTAUR STAKES (GII-JPN)

10 September 2006

Race favorite SHE IS TOSHO claimed this year’s CENTAUR STAKES to land his fifth grade-race victory (incl. two GII and three GIII wins).

The race broke off with WIN LEGEND, COSMO FORTUNE and TAKEOVER TARGET saving ground to bid for the front. WIN LEGEND eventually took the lead followed by TAKEOVER TARGET on the inside and COSMO FORTUNE on the outside, rallying for second position. SHE IS TOSHO partnered with Kenichi Ikezoe traveled wide and settled around fifth position while fourth-pick NATIVE HEART stalked right behind on the outside.

As the field turned for home, Jay Ford steered second favorite TAKEOVER TARGET to the outside and overtook the frontrunner right after the 300-meter line. Meanwhile, SHE IS TOSHO, coming from far wide, exerted a magnificent kick in the homestretch to capture the front 200 meters out. Although TAKEOVER TARGET held on well, SHE IS TOSHO further widened the gap in the last furlong to cross the wire 3 lengths in front. NATIVE HEART also showed a great turn of speed and closed in on the runner-up but was 1/2 length short in third.

TAKEOVER TARGET, acquiring 5 points in this race, stands on top with 33 points, with two more races remaining in the GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE.

She is Tosho wins the G2 Centaur Stakes!

10 September 2006

In the 19th running of the Group 2 Centaur Stakes over 1200m at the Chukyo racecourse just outside the city of Nagoya in Japan, the consistent 6yo Japanese mare, She is Tosho swept past the Australian visitor Takeover Target in the final straight to win by 3 lengths.

Although the Chukyo turf track had been on fire during the day, with the winner of a maiden race over the same course registering 1:08.2 in winning just a few hours earlier, the track was downgraded to “yielding” immediately prior to the running of the Grade 2 feature after a freak storm hit the track approximately 30 minutes before the race. The rain may have made a difference to the chances of some of the sprinters, but obviously it couldn’t stop She is Tosho who, although drawing the extreme outside barrier of 18, began brilliantly and was settled just off the pace by jockey Kenichj Ikezoe. Australian jockey Jay Ford bounced Takeover Target out of barrier 11, and during the early stages down the back straight crossed to the lead. After letting Win Legend cross to lead him before the turn, Ford was able to get Takeover Target out in the clear at the top of the straight, and the fairytale runner quickly pulled away from the tiring leaders. However, She is Tosho appeared out of the pack, and finished strongly down the middle of the track, eventually winning by 3 lengths. Takeover Target held on for 2nd, with the 8yo evergreen Native Heart finishing strongly for 3rd. Limitless Bid and Maruka Kiseki finished 4th and 5th to pick up minor points in the Global Sprint Challenge.

The time for the race was 1:08.6, and the official margins were 3 lengths between 1st and 2nd, with 1/2 length back to 3rd. The winner She is Tosho is owned by the Tosho Sangyo group who bred the mare at their Tosho Bokujo farm, and is trained by Mr. Akio Tsurudome.

MEDIA RELEASE

NEWMARKET HANDICAP INCLUDED IN 2007 GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE

Thursday 7 September 2006

The Victoria Racing Club’s premier sprint race – the $1 million Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) – has been included in the 2007 Global Sprint Challenge.

It will replace the Moonee Valley Racing Club’s $405,000 Group 1 Australia Stakes as Australia’s second leg of the international sprint series.

To be run at Caulfield in 2007 due to track improvements being carried out at Flemington, next year’s Newmarket Handicap will be run on Saturday 10 March.

It will be the only handicap race among the seven-race Global Sprint Challenge.

Australia’s other Global Sprint Challenge leg, the $500,000 Group 1 Lightning Stakes, will be run on Saturday 3 February 2007 at Moonee Valley, before returning to Flemington in 2008.

VRC Chairman Rod Fitzroy said the club was delighted to have Australia’s premier 1200m race included in such a prestigious international series alongside its other flagship sprint, the Lightning Stakes.

“The VRC looks forward to hosting the best international competitors as part of the Global Sprint Challenge,” Mr Fitzroy said.

“During the spring the world’s best stayers are attracted to Flemington for the Melbourne Cup Carnival and we’re delighted that our feature autumn sprints will now provide a similar attraction for the world’s best sprinters.”

RVL’s Director of Racing Operations Leigh Jordon said the Newmarket Handicap would be a welcome addition to the 2007 Global Sprint Challenge, which will be in its third year.

“The inclusion of the Newmarket Handicap will substantially increase the prize money level on offer in Australia during the series and will further strengthen Australia’s presence in the highly successful Global Sprint Challenge series,” Jordon said.

The news comes as Australia’s Takeover Target prepares to contest another leg of the 2006 Global Sprint Challenge in Japan. The Joe Janiak-trained gelding will take his place in Sunday’s Group 2 Centaur Stakes (1200m) to be run at Chukyo Racecourse.

With wins in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington, the Group 2 King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) at Royal Ascot and a third placing in the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes (1200m), also at Royal Ascot, Takeover Target heads the 2006 Global Sprint Challenge leaderboard on 28 points.

Providing he comes through Sunday’s race well, Takeover Target will push on to the penultimate event of the 2006 Global Sprint Challenge; the Group 1 Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse on Sunday 1 October.

Takeover Target must win that event to remain in the running for the US$1 million bonus, which is available to any horse who contests Global Sprint Challenge races in all four competing countries and wins three Group 1 events in the process.

The final race in the 2006 series is the Group 1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Hong Kong’s Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday 10 December.

2007 GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE CALENDAR

Centaur Stakes (JPN G2) - 5th leg of the Global Sprint Challenge

6 SEPTEMBER 2006

Preview

 
2005 Centaur Stakes                                                                      Takeover Target

The Grade 2 Centaur Stakes (1200m) will be run for the 19th time on Sunday 10th September. The Centaur Stakes was a leg of the inaugural Global Sprint Challenge last year, and this year retains its spot in the Challenge – with expected international participation from Australian sprinting star Takeover Target. Takeover Target currently leads the 2006 Global Sprint Challenge with 28 points, earned through his wins in the Group 1 Lighting Stakes (1000m) at Flemington, the Group 2 King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, and his 3rd placing in the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. He is 17 points clear of Les Arcs, the UK galloper who beat Takeover Target in winning the Golden Jubilee Stakes and also holds a nomination for the Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes in Japan on 1st October.

The Centaur Stakes was established in 1987, the race takes its name from the statue of Mr. Eiji Yoshida which was sculptured in the form of the Greek mythological character Centaur, and stands at Hanshin racecourse (near Osaka) where this race is traditionally run. The race was originally established as a Grade 3 race over 1400m, but was revised to 1200m in 2000 when the timing of the feature Autumn Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes was changed. This year, the race has been upgraded to Grade 2 status in line with the JRA’s overhaul of the Japanese sprinting program.

 

Importantly, this year’s running will be held at Chukyo racecourse near Nagoya due to construction at Hanshin racecourse. The 1200m course at Chukyo Racecourse is the same course as the Grade 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen, the major Japanese Spring sprinting contest. The Chukyo turf track is approximately 1600m in circumference, with the 1200m course involving a straight run of over 400m, before a long anti-clockwise turn leading into the 314m straight. The long straight run from the barrier gives every horse a chance, as evidenced by the win of Admire Max in the 2005 renewal of the Takamatsunomiya Kinen after starting from barrier 18. The course is very flat, and this weekend’s racing is the first time the Chukyo course has been used since mid June.

There are 24 nominations (including Takeover Target) for the race which has a capacity field of 18. Below is an summary of the key horses expected to both gain a start and also be favored on Sunday:

She is Tosho: Smashed the track record for this course in May last year when carving out a time of 1:06.7, leading all the way. Finished 3rd in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen this year, and looks the biggest danger to Takeover Target. She is a very fast and talented mare who races on the pace, loves this course and comes into this race with a win and 2 seconds from her last 3 starts (all in Grade 3 races).

Gallant Arrow: A Group 2 and Group 3 winner who was also placed behind Durandal in the Group 1 Mile Championship over 1600m in 2003. The likely leader of the race, and any rain would help his chances, but he was the leader in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen over this course in March and stopped quickly to finish 12th. He has had 3 Grade race starts since with 12th being his best finish.

Golden Cast: Winner of this race last year when it was run at the Hanshin racecourse as the penultimate leg of the Global Sprinting Challenge in 2005. Had been struggling since in Grade company, but seems to have a habit of producing his best in these hot summer months, and comes into this race winning two starts back and finishing 2nd in a Grade 3 1200m race at Kokura racecourse last start.

Lord Ultima: This son of Seeking the Gold has always shown exceptional ability but this is his acid test. He has never raced in open class, and never at Grade level. However he has registered 6 wins, a second and 2 thirds in 10 starts, and has been most impressive in his winning performances. He has recovered from two major injuries during his career, and if he is competitive here, the future looks extremely bright. He will also benefit from the services of top Japanese jockey Yutaka Take.

Homan Tequila: Is always popular with the fans due to his consistent performances such as his 3rd last start in a Grade 3 1200m sprint, and a narrow second in this race last year (when at Hanshin) behind Golden Cast. This does seem to be a tougher assignment though, and he hasn’t won for over a year.

Sachino Sweetie: A very speedy 3yo filly who broke through at Grade 3 level when winning the Ibis Summer Dash over the straight 1000m course at Niigata, but was disappointing in the same class around the tight turning Kokura track last start. Obviously promising but this is a much harder race.

Venus Line: Surprised everyone when winning a Grade 3 1200m sprint in Hakodate two starts back at 77/1. Followed up with a nice effort last start when closing late in the same grade once again in Hokkaido (this time at the Sapporo course), and if she can bring her form back down to the mainland, she has to be given a chance.

Fusaichi Hokutosei: A beautifully bred son of Machiavellian who looks to be a speed machine, but is facing his biggest test here. Finished 5th in the only 2yo JRA Grade 1 as a juvenile, but has not really been tested at this level since. He can run very fast times, including a narrow 2nd at the Fukushima racetrack in 1:07.1 over 1200m, and the course definitely looks to suit him here.

Native Heart: Formerly a very good juvenile who stunned Japanese fans when winning the Group 3 Ocean Stakes at Nakayama in March at odds of 140/1 before finishing close up in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen the next start. Now an 8yo, he is racing as well as ever and will be closing at the end, with the strong pace here likely to help his chances.

Limitless Bid: A 7yo son of Sunday Silence who burst onto the scene earlier this year with successive Group wins over 1200m then 1400m – both on dirt. Was placed on turf over this course in the 2004 Group 2 CBC Sho and again this year in the 2006 renewal of the CBC Sho (now a Grade 3) which is a positive, and although he hasn’t been winning recently, he has not been far away. Will be finishing strongly.

Maruka Kiseki: One of the top sprinters in Japan in 2005 – including a very good 4th in the Group 1 Sprinters Stakes behind Silent Witness. However, he has been disappointing ever since that run and has never been placed at this track (on turf). It would be a surprise for him to reverse his form and challenge here.

Keeneland Swan: A two time Group 3 winner who finished 2nd over this course in the 2005 Takamatsunomiya Kinen in this race behind Admire Max and 5th in the Group 1 Sprinters Stakes won by Silent Witness later in the year. One of the few proven Group 1 performed sprinters in the race so must be given some kind of chance but he has been unplaced his last 14 starts.

TAKEOVER TARGET in Japan

1 SEPTEMBER 2006

TAKEOVER TARGET, the current leader of the Global Sprint Challenge claiming wins at Flemington and Royal Ascot, arrived safely in Japan on Thursday, 31st August. He flew into Japan on flight JL6402 from Heathrow and was transported to the quarantine centre at Shiroi by van. In spite of the long transportation, trainer Joseph Janiak mentioned that there is nothing to worry about his horse’s condition.

TAKEOVER TARGET is due to move to Chukyo Racecourse on Wednesday, 6th September to be ready for the Centaur Stakes, the fifth leg of the Global Sprint Challenge.

Selected Horses (ver.2) -Sprinters Stakes (Group 1) (Japanese Leg of the Global Sprint Challenge)

30 AUGUST 2006

6TH LEG OF THE GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE - Sunday,1 October 2006

(Selected Horses from foreign countries)

Number of horse(s): Four - as of August 30th

JRA has been informed from the connections of ; Ashdown Express,Steenberg and Iffraaj that they will not run in the Sprinters Stakes.

Selected Horses - Sprinters Stakes (Group 1) (Japanese Leg of the Global Sprint Challenge)

18 AUGUST 2006

6TH LEG OF THE GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE - Sunday,1 October 2006

(Selected Horses from foreign countries)

Number of horse(s): Seven - as of August 18th

Selected Horses (ver.2) - Centaur Stakes (Group 2) (Japanese Leg of the Global Sprint Challenge)

18 AUGUST 2006

5TH LEG OF THE GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE - Sunday,10 September 2006

(Selected Horses from foreign countries)

Number of horse(s): One - as of August 18th

JRA has been informed from the connection of Baltic King that he will not run in the Centaur Stakes.

Selected Horses - Centaur Stakes (Group 2) (Japanese Leg of the Global Sprint Challenge)

04 AUGUST 2006

5TH LEG OF THE GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE - Sunday,10 September 2006

(Selected Horses from foreign countries)

Number of horse(s): Two - as of August 3rd

Golden Jubilee Stakes (Group 1) (British Leg of the Global Sprint Challenge)

24 JUNE 2006

LES ARCS SKIS IN FOR PITT AND McKAY

Les Arcs, who finished last in a maiden hurdle at Cartmel just under two years ago, landed one of Europe's premier sprint races on the final day of Royal Ascot. In a finish dominated by outsiders Les Arcs at 33-1 defeated
50-1 shot Balthazaar's Gift to win the Golden Jubilee Stakes (Gr.1).

The John Egan-ridden winner was saddled by first-season trainer Tim Pitt for owner Willie McKay, who placed £2,000 each-way on his horse with Ladbrokes just before the off. Pitt is based at Bawtry in South Yorkshire at a 40-box yard owned by McKay - the latter is a former bookmaker-turned-football agent, who includes Joey Barton, Lauren Robert and Alain Boumsong among his 25-strong squad of players.

McKay's horse could finish only 11th to Takeover Target in Tuesday's King's Stand Stakes, but the winning owner said: "Tim and John were talking about that race this morning and decided the horse was rushed a bit in the King's Stand. Today John took his time and gave the horse a fantastic ride and Tim Pitt is a great young trainer who is going places."

Pitt said: "I felt slightly disappointed after the King's Stand, but when I looked at the replays again he was third at the furlong pole and only beaten just over two lengths by the winner. It had always been the plan to come for this race and he came out of Tuesday's contest bucking and squealing so we thought we'd take a chance.

"I think six is his better trip. Five is okay if they go a good pace and he can sit and relax and that was the key today. John was able to take his time today, whereas on Tuesday it was hammer from the word go and he was caught off his feet a little.

"After Tuesday we were thinking about going abroad with him or down the handicap route because he had dropped to 110, but now the July Cup would be the obvious place."

GOLDEN JUBILEE STAKES (GROUP 1) - 24 JUNE 2006

GALLANT TAKEOVER JUST MISSES TARGET

Tuesday's Australian-trained King's Stand Stakes winner Takeover Stand just failed in his bid to land a Royal Ascot sprint double when finishing third to Les Arcs in the Golden Jubilee Stakes.

Jockey Jay Ford reported: "He travelled very well but just had nothing left at the end. He ran a gutsy third but at the end of the day I think the four-day back-up was too big an ask for him."

Trainer Joe Janiak still plans to send the seven-year-old to next month's Darley July Cup at Newmarket and added: "He was a little flat at the finish and I think the back-up caught up with him. He picked up beautifully and after he gets over these couple of runs he'll be fine. He'll stay over here to go for the July Cup and then I don't know what he'll do.

"I'm absolutely wrapped and so pleased I came over. I couldn't expect much more than that beforehand. Six furlongs is still his best trip and the 1,200 metres in the July Cup will suit him. He tried 110 per cent as he alwatys does and there's no disgrace running third in a Group 1."

LEADERBOARD AS AT 24 JUNE 2006