CHAMPIONS TAKE CENTRE STAGE

The last time they raced together(in the Winterbottom Stakes)only a nose separated Takeover Target and Apache Cat in a contest that will long be remembered as a classic clash of champions.

Both runners will line up for action again this weekend, but this time they will be worlds apart.

Apache Cat races in Hong Kong in the Group 1, Hong Kong International Sprint. Takeover Target races in Perth in the Group 3, AJ Scahill Stakes.

The Group 1 is obviously the major prize but Takeover Target raises the profile of any race he enters to the degree that both races will be awaited with a similar keen interest by all Australian racing enthusiasts.

Although separated by thousands of miles, there remains a subtle link between Apache Cat’s aspirations and a gap in the resume of Takeover Target.

When the latter’s trainer Joe Janiak praised the Apache Cat camp and suggested they would be the ones to go on and assume his champions mantel as Australia’s international sprint star, he didn’t mention any unfinished business. But there will be just a touch of that in play when Apache Cat lines up to face the starter on Sunday.

In 2006, Takeover Target was the favourite for the Hong Kong Sprint. If Takeover Target had won that race, Janiak would have been in line to collect an additional prize-money bonus of $US1 million for winning Group 1 races in three of the four host countries in the Global Sprint Challenge Series.

On race-day morning, Takeover Target was withdrawn by Hong Kong Stewards for returning a positive reading to 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone hexonate, a hormone. Instead of collecting money, Janiak had to settle a $HK200 000 fine.

Different horse, different trainer this time around, but it would be ‘score one for Australia’ if Apache Cat does salute. A couple of years later than it could have been, maybe, but it would be result filled with satisfaction for all concerned.

Apache Cat will also be looking to put an end to the runs of wins by Hong Kong based horses who have ruled the race since 2002.

While the focus is on the current challenge, it should be remembered that Australians have had more than a fair share of success in this race in the past.

Since it was first run in 1999, the ‘honour roll’ for Hong Kong International Sprint features the names of six Australians.

Jockey Steven King won the inaugural running of the race on Fairy King Prawn. The following two years belonged to the ‘King of Queensland’, the Danny Bougoure trained Falvelon who scored back to back wins in the race. Damian Oliver was in the saddle on both occasions.

Trainer David Hayes won the 2002 version with All Thrills Too (which was the first time the race acquired Group 1 status) and trainer David Hall and jockey Brett Prebble combined to bring Absolute Champion home in 2006 (which was the first time the race was contested over 1200m, having previously been over the 1000m trip.

On Sunday we will know whether we can add the names of trainer Greg Eurell and jockey Corey Brown to that list.

No race of this description is ever an easy assignment. With the opposition likely to include the likes of Marchant D’Or (Champion Sprinter in Europe who will be bidding for his fourth straight Group 1 victory), Mythical Flight (dual Group 1 winner in South Africa), Enthused (winner of the International Sprint Trial), Sunny Power (a close-up runner-up in the International Sprint Trial) and Diabolical (from the powerful Godolphin stable), amongst others, the Sha Tin track will be no place for the faint-hearted on Sunday.

The race is meant to showcase the best and it should provide a terrific, racing spectacle.

Back in Perth, the expectation is that Takeover Target will once again give his subjects something to smile about.

Joe Janiak’s biggest worry might well be whether the other four horses who have nominated for the A J Scahill Stakes at Ascot stand their ground at the acceptance stage, so at least we can have a race.

In the unlikely event they do not, Takeover Target should still be allowed to trot around the track and collect his first prize. The value to racing inherent in that promotional exercise would cover the cost.

As things stand at the moment, Takeover Target will meet his four rivals - Scenic Shot, Tarzi, Hartley’s Dream and Royal Lott - at level weights (59kg) over the 1400m trip.

Scenic Shot has won three Group 2 races and has been placed in two Group 1 events. Perhaps a more important point is the fact that the Daniel Morton trained runner is something of a course specialist, having recorded eight of his eleven wins on his home track.

Scenic Shot races first-up. His last start was in June when he finished fourth behind subsequent Melbourne Cup winner Viewed in the Brisbane Cup.

Tarzi bids for back to back wins in the A J Scahill Stakes. He has a favourable statistic in his record bank, namely that five of his nine wins have come over 1400m. Takeover Target has won on only one occasion in four tries over the 1400m.

Hartley’s Dream has not won a race since 2006 and Royal Lott never looked like troubling the champion when well beaten in the Winterbottom Stakes.

So take in the wide view this weekend. From Perth to Hong Kong, it’s going to be good racing.