KEY POINTS:
Cheers turned to jeers at Randwick yesterday when stewards upheld a protest against pinup horse Takeover Target in the Group Two Villiers Stakes.
Takeover Target had staged another unforgettable performance under a big weight before the protest siren sounded.
Punters lined the fence to voice their opinion of the result with chief steward Ray Murrihy bearing the brunt of their displeasure while winning trainer Chris Waller tried hard to savour the victory.
Takeover Target finished a nose in front of Waller's charge Honor In War. But at the 200m mark of the 1400m feature Takeover Target was deemed to have shifted out and taken Honor In War's running.
His jockey Jay Ford argued that Miss Pageantry, who was on Honor In War's outside, had shifted in causing the problem but Murrihy told him Hugh Bowman and Honor In War had established the run.
"We can't be disappointed and we'll go by the stewards' decision," trainer Joe Janiak said.
The win was Waller's first since equine influenza (EI) gutted Sydney racing and he weathered the storm well and offered an apology.
"There's been a lot that has come out of EI and this is another thing," he said.
"I didn't think this was how I'd win my first race back.
"Takeover Target is a marvellous horse, he carried 61 kilos. I'm sorry it was us."
While Takeover Target is renowned as one of the great sprinters, Honor In War is less known but very well credentialled.
A Group One winner in the United States, Honor In War was bought by a syndicate headed by Dean Watt with a view to sending him to stud in Australia.
He spent some time in Melbourne with Danny O'Brien and when the stud deal fell through he was sent to Waller in Sydney.
"He is a 9-year-old and I don't know if he can recapture the form he had in America," Waller said.
"But there are some very nice races coming up for him like the Chipping Norton Stakes. He is a genuine and very serious horse."
Honor In War started at $12 with Takeover Target the $2.20 favourite. Alverta ($7) finished 2 1/4 lengths third.
Alverta was beaten in a photo-finish by Takeover Target two weeks ago and showed plenty again yesterday.
Takeover Target is likely to have a short break with Janiak still to decide whether to try to negotiate the quarantine protocols and take the champion to Melbourne or stay in Sydney.
As Waller said he was gallant in defeat and you couldn't take anything away from him.
Except the race.
- AAP
