KEY POINTS:
Takeover Target was his own worst enemy in the Razor Sharp Quality but the international sprint star's class and will to win got him home a nose in front of Alverta at Randwick yesterday.
Dance Hero was expected to lead and be hard to run down over 1200m but a fired-up Takeover Target jumped straight to the front and refused to let the other horse past him.
In doing so, Takeover Target made sure Dance Hero was used up but set himself up to be run down. And Alverta looked to have done just that, but the photo-finish showed otherwise.
"He was entitled to get beaten today," jockey Jay Ford said. "And I wasn't sure at the finish whether he had.
"I think perhaps he was a bit fresh with the three weeks between runs and had done a bit too well.
"I knew when we were behind the gates and he was jig-jogging around that he was going to go hard. He can do that sometimes but he's that tough and he knows where the post is.
"He was entitled to get rolled but he didn't. That's the sort of horse he is."
Trainer Joe Janiak thought his horse had been beaten as did the connections of Alverta who carried 8kg less.
'The way he raced today it set it up for a horse to get past him.
"Dance Hero pushed him all the way but I expected Dance Hero to lead as he did last time."
The two staged a virtual match race when Sydney racing resumed at Randwick on December 1 following the equine influenza crisis.
Takeover Target chased Dance Hero down to score a memorable victory and the pair are scheduled to clash again in the Villiers Stakes (1400m) in two weeks.
"He will get 61 kilos again and Jay is of the opinion he will even get a mile," Janiak said.
Glyn Schofield, who rode the runner-up, said Takeover Target showed his mettle.
"At the 100m I thought I could get him but he stuck to his guns and put his head out, but my mare didn't lie down either."
- AAP
