Re: Exceller Fund Auctions - artwork by Pat DeLong
by Tulloch
We have a wonderful rags to riches story happening over here in Australia at the moment, in the form of a horse named Takeover Target.
Three years ago this horse was one step away from the knackery when a taxi driver come part time horse trainer named Joe Janiak stepped in and bought him for $1200.
Joe was told that the horse had incurable leg problems but later discovered his legs were fine, but instead, it was his hooves that were causing the trouble.
Joe treated Takeover Target's hooves and got him to the racetrack where he has since started 19 times for 12 wins including 3 Group Ones and $2m in prizemoney.
After Gr1 wins earlier this year in the 1000m Lightning Stakes and the 1200m Newmarket at Flemington, Takeover Target was invited by British racing officials to race at their prestigious Ascot Carnival in June, so last Tuesday at Ascot, after travelling halfway around the globe, the horse that nobody wanted and was saved from the slaughterhouse by a taxi driver, beat a field of 28 runners comprising the best sprinters in all of Europe.
To see Joe on the TV at Royal Ascot with his top hat and tails was really something, a guy who lived in a trailer in country Australia leading in his $1200 Champion ahead of the finest horseflesh that money can buy.
Saturday, Takeover Target line up at Ascot again in the GR1 Golden Jubilee Stakes over 1200m for which he has been installed $3.30 favourite.
Like us Aussies, the Brits have also fallen in love with this horse who has defied all the odds to make it to the top, good luck to the Aussie champ on Saturday, GO Takeover Target, you good thing !
