Takeover Target

Takeover Target
Takeover Target in exhibition gallop at Queanbeyan Racecourse
Sire	Celtic Swing (GB)
Grandsire	Damister (USA)
Dam	Shady Stream (AUS)
Damsire	Archregent (CAN)
Sex	Gelding
Foaled	27 September 1999
Country	Australia
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Meringo Stud, New South Wales
Owner	Joe Janiak, Ben Janiak
Trainer	Joe Janiak
Record	41:21-6-4
Earnings	A$6,028,311
Major wins
Salinger Stakes (G1) (2004) Lightning Stakes (G1) (2006) Newmarket Handicap (G1) (2006) King's Stand Stakes (G2) (2006) Sprinters Stakes (G1) (2006) Doomben 10,000 (G1) (2007) KrisFlyer International Sprint (G1) (2008) T J Smith Stakes (G1) (2009)) The Goodwood (G1) (2009)
Awards
Australian Champion Sprinter (2006) World's Highest Rated Turf Sprinter (2006) IFHA rating: 121 Global Sprint Challenge Champion (2006) Australian Champion International Performer (2006, 2007, 2008)
Honours
Australian Racing Hall of Fame inductee (2012)
Last updated on 16 April 2012

Takeover Target (27 September 1999 – 20 June 2015) was a much-travelled Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who won top sprinting races in each of the five major cities in Australia as well as in the United Kingdom, Japan, and Singapore.

He was owned and trained by Joe Janiak, a former Queanbeyan, New South Wales, taxi driver, and was ridden by Sydney-based jockey Jay Ford in all but two race starts. He was purchased for A$1,250 plus $125 GST in July 2003 and earned $6,028,311 in prize money.

Sired by Celtic Swing out of the unraced dam Shady Stream, Takeover Target was ruled out of racing for thirty months due to leg and joint problems. He did not make his debut until he was a four-year-old. He was unbeaten in all of his starts in 2004 and set a seven-race winning run following his debut on 23 April 2004 in a 1,200 metre maiden race at Queanbeyan Racecourse. These wins included victory in the listed Pacesetter Stakes at Gosford Racecourse, the listed Ramornie Handicap at Grafton Racecourse, and the Group 1 Salinger Stakes at Flemington Racecourse in October of that year.

Takeover Target then endured two injuries which kept him out of racing for a further six months. He pulled up lame after winning a barrier trial at the Gold Coast Racecourse in late November 2004 while being prepared for two stakes races at Doomben Racecourse, then had a piece of infected bone removed from a hoof while being prepared for the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival in 2005.