Bluey
13-07-2009, 07:10 PM
Aussie race horse, Takeover Target, one of the great stories of the Australian turf and destined for the silver screen, has been retired.
Part owner and trainer Joe Janiak made the decision yesterday after Takeover Target had emergency surgery at the Newmarket Equine Veterinary Hospital in England.
The nine year old gelding had five screws inserted in his cracked off hind cannon bone, an injury he sustained in Saturday's Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket.
Takeover Target fought on courageously to finish seventh, beaten 4 1/4 lengths by Fleeting Spirit.
"Thankfully, it's all good news," Janiak told Britain's Racing Post newspaper. "He will be resting at the hospital for a couple of months.
"He seems fine after the operation. He just needs rest."
Janiak described "as a great adventure" his five year world odyssey with Takeover Target, whose eight Group 1 sprint wins rank second behind only Manikato's 11.
He said the gelding had provided him with innumerable memories.
Takeover Target has been a crowd favourite in Australia for years, having won major races in every mainland state.
But he has also captured the hearts of racing fans around the world.
Following the news that the champion sprinter was recovering from leg surgery, fans from Britain, Ireland and even Germany expressed their relief that his injury was not fatal.
"Fingers crossed for a long and happy retirement," was the response from a German fan named Catrin on the Racing Post website.
An Irish fan wrote: "What a legend. (He's) been a fantastic addition to the European summer the last few years. Take care of him well, Joe."
Meanwhile, jockey Steven Arnold remained at a loss to explain Scenic Blast's career worst run in the 1200m July Cup.
Arnold said he could not fault the action of the West Australian sprinter, heavily backed from $2.75 to $2.40 favourite before he beat just three runners home.
"He was sound enough. I'm not really sure what the reason is. He put in a shocker, really," Arnold told the Herald Sun.
"I was pretty happy through the first three furlongs, but then at the 600m, when he is usually towing you into it, he was gone. He just didn't truck up behind them as he normally does. He usually gives you a great feel.
"I couldn't put it down to the track because I was beaten too far out and too easily."
Arnold said Scenic Blast had quickened ever so slightly, but nothing like the explosive burst he produced in winning the 1000m King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.
Part owner and trainer Joe Janiak made the decision yesterday after Takeover Target had emergency surgery at the Newmarket Equine Veterinary Hospital in England.
The nine year old gelding had five screws inserted in his cracked off hind cannon bone, an injury he sustained in Saturday's Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket.
Takeover Target fought on courageously to finish seventh, beaten 4 1/4 lengths by Fleeting Spirit.
"Thankfully, it's all good news," Janiak told Britain's Racing Post newspaper. "He will be resting at the hospital for a couple of months.
"He seems fine after the operation. He just needs rest."
Janiak described "as a great adventure" his five year world odyssey with Takeover Target, whose eight Group 1 sprint wins rank second behind only Manikato's 11.
He said the gelding had provided him with innumerable memories.
Takeover Target has been a crowd favourite in Australia for years, having won major races in every mainland state.
But he has also captured the hearts of racing fans around the world.
Following the news that the champion sprinter was recovering from leg surgery, fans from Britain, Ireland and even Germany expressed their relief that his injury was not fatal.
"Fingers crossed for a long and happy retirement," was the response from a German fan named Catrin on the Racing Post website.
An Irish fan wrote: "What a legend. (He's) been a fantastic addition to the European summer the last few years. Take care of him well, Joe."
Meanwhile, jockey Steven Arnold remained at a loss to explain Scenic Blast's career worst run in the 1200m July Cup.
Arnold said he could not fault the action of the West Australian sprinter, heavily backed from $2.75 to $2.40 favourite before he beat just three runners home.
"He was sound enough. I'm not really sure what the reason is. He put in a shocker, really," Arnold told the Herald Sun.
"I was pretty happy through the first three furlongs, but then at the 600m, when he is usually towing you into it, he was gone. He just didn't truck up behind them as he normally does. He usually gives you a great feel.
"I couldn't put it down to the track because I was beaten too far out and too easily."
Arnold said Scenic Blast had quickened ever so slightly, but nothing like the explosive burst he produced in winning the 1000m King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.