The Match Race

[my miss storm cat]

Match race plans gather momentum
(no author listed)


Tuesday, 23 October 2007:

A proposed match race between star NSW sprinters Takeover Target and Natural Destiny on November 10 is expected to receive the green light from Racing NSW by the end of the week.

The pair, stabled at Coffs Harbour on the state's mid-north coast, were prevented from crossing the border into Victoria to compete in the spring carnival because of equine influenza (EI), leading their trainers Joe Janiak (Takeover Target) and Gordon Yorke (Natural Destiny) to pitch the match race proposal to authorities.

Racing NSW general manager, commercial and racing Greg Rudolph has confirmed that the race had been proposed to be part of the Coffs Harbour meeting on November 10.

Rudolph added that Racing NSW would be responsible for drawing up the race conditions, including the handicaps, but not for prizemoney which he said would be "a matter for both parties".

"We're in the middle of drafting up the conditions for the race, subject to consultation with the race club at Coffs Harbour and connections of both horses," Rudolph said.

"Racing NSW will have to approve it and all parties will have to agree. We hope to have it finalised this week."

Rudolph said the race was a worthwhile proposition and one that could generate plenty of interest.

"Two top sprinters showcased against each other would be a shot in the arm for the industry leading into the rescheduled return of racing to Sydney in December," Rudolph said.

Yorke said that he and Janiak would only be racing their stars if there was decent prizemoney up for grabs.

"Joe and I agreed that we'd be looking for a purse of $300,000 and that it will be over 1200 metres, that's the distance we both were planning on running them over in Victoria," Yorke said.

"You've got the old dog and the young dog and everybody has to get a shot at the champion to push him off his perch and that's what Takeover Target is, a champion.

"This race is going to tell me whether my horse is ready to step up to the next level or if he's bullshit.

"The TAB can turnover a lot of money from this race, it will be professionally promoted and it's there to give the people something to get excited about.

"It will be very good for country racing and very good for NSW racing to make this happen."

Natural Destiny has won 10 of his 13 starts and became the first horse to make a clean sweep of the Doomben Summer Series when he added the Bernborough Hcp in January to his wins in the Summer and Doomben Stakes in December.

He subsequently underwent an operation to remove bone chips from his knee and has not raced since.

Takeover Target is one of Australia's best-loved gallopers after winning Group One sprints in Australia and Japan and scoring at Royal Ascot in England in 2006.

The speedster has not raced since his brave second to Soldier's Tale in the Group One Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

Natural Destiny is among the first nominations for the Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) and the Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on December 9.

http://www.racingandsports.com.au/ra...asp?NID=114703