Janiak Hoping For Takeover Double

Joe Janiak believes Takeover Target has every chance of completing the big sprint double for Australia in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot today.

The seven-year-old bids to add the Group One sprint over six furlongs to his victory in the five-furlong King's Stand Stakes on Tuesday.

If successful he will emulate his compatriot Choisir who took both races for Paul Perry in 2003.

'We're in with a chance of doing the double,' said Janiak, who is happier with the stalls position his charge has been allocated for the Golden Jubilee compared to the King's Stand.

Takeover Target will break from stall 13 in a field of 19, having started from 17 of 28 on Tuesday.

'The barrier draw's better than last time,' said Janiak.

Before Tuesday's race, Janiak walked the course with jockey Jay Ford, who brought Takeover Target towards the centre of the track to make his winning challenge.

Janiak reported his £500 bargain buy to be in fine shape following his short head win over Benbaun in the King's Stand. That was his 12th win in 19 starts and victory today would take his earnings past the £1million mark.

'He's all right and he's been good since Tuesday,' Janiak went on.

As expected, the victory has been well received back in Australia.

'We've had lots of messages. The support from home has been great,' he added.

A second Australian raider going for glory is Glamour Puss, who was only beaten about a length when seventh in the King's Stand.

'She has come through her first run tremendously well and Danny (O'Brien, trainer) couldn't be any happier with her,' said Garry Chittick, the mare's New Zealand owner and breeder.

'She usually takes a run to get to her best form.

'This is the main race we brought her to Europe for,' Chittick told New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing.

'The distance of the King's Stand Stakes was always going to be too short for her as she is a 1200 metres (six furlong) specialist.

'In saying that, I was very happy with her run the other day and full credit to the winner, Takeover Target, for his performance which was a great result for the Australasian breeding and racing industry.'

David Chapman's admirable Quito notched his 12th career success at Haydock last time and the trainer reports the nine-year-old to be in top trim.

He would be a topical winner as he is named after the capital of Ecuador, England's opponents in the World Cup on Sunday.

'He seemed as good as ever last time and he's still very well,' said Chapman. 'We are pretty hopeful and I'm sure he'll run well.

'It's a tough race though and the Aussies look as if they will take some beating. He has never disappointed us yet though, he is very genuine.

'Six or seven furlongs comes alike to him, he even gets a mile so the fact that it is a stiff six will help us.

'We've not come out of the draw very well (18) but neither has Takeover Target (13). He might have to blast off and go whereas we can sit behind them.

'The ground should be fine for him. Tony Culhane rang me after the first day and told me the ground was beautiful, and they've been putting water on so it should be fine.

'We'll give them all a run for their money anyway.'

Connections of Eisteddfod are hoping the ground is suitable for the Paul Cole-trained five-year-old, who was fifth to Reverence in the Temple Stakes at Sandown last month.

'He seems to be in good form. We'll have a good look at the ground, but I'm sure it will be OK,' said Matthew Budden, racing manager to owner/breeders the Elite Racing Club.

'I hope we get some rain but I don't think there's that much forecast. There's a nice cushion of grass and they seem to have done a good job with the ground. We'll just have to see.'

Iffraaj, winner of last year's Wokingham when with Michael Jarvis, will be having his first run for Godolphin in the race,

However, like most of Saeed bin Suroor's runners this week he may just be in need of the outing.

'I like this horse ? he is very honest and has plenty of speed,' bin Suroor told www.godolphin.com:

'This is his first race of the year and he is almost ready ? I think he is a nice horse for the future.'

Simon Crisford, the Godolphin racing manager, added: 'Iffraaj has been going well on the home gallops and we are hoping for the best.'

Kevin Ryan, who broke his Royal Ascot duck with Uhoomagoo in the Buckingham Palace Stakes on Thursday, relies on three-year-olds Amadeus Wolf and Balthazaar's Gift.

'They are both in good order and they are two very good horses in their own right,' said Ryan.

'I couldn't be happier with either of them going into the race and they are both in very good form.

'It was always the plan to bring Amadeus Wolf back to sprinting and this race has been his target since the Guineas.

'Amadeus has also got a reasonable draw (nine) so there should be no excuses.

'Balthazaar's has it pretty tough though from 14 which makes it a bit harder for him. But we've got Jamie Spencer booked and he is in spectacular form so I'll leave it to him where he goes.

'The ground should suit Amadeus but Balthazaar's could do with a bit of cut.'

? PA Sport