Janiak takes interest in greyhound namesake Takeover Target

By Jordan Gerrans

Emerging Townsville greyhound Takeover Target has attracted a new fan in legendary gallops trainer Joe Janiak, who prepared the champion racehorse of the same name.

The dog - Takeover Target - qualified for next month’s feature Townsville Cup on Tuesday evening by claiming the Wildcard Final in dominant fashion.

The Michael Hickmott-prepared chaser was a stylish winner in the race for local greyhounds to book their spot in the Group 2 Cup decider before the big-name southern kennels arrive for the heats.

The two-year-old black dog won in 28.31 seconds over 498 metres in the Wildcard Final, beating the chasing pack by more than five lengths.

The greyhound is named after former star thoroughbred sprinter Takeover Target, who took Janiak on a remarkable journey across the globe as they won more than $6 million together.

Now based at Coffs Harbour, Janiak wasn’t aware of the namesake greyhound until this week, but says he will be keeping a close eye on him when the rich Townsville Cup is held next month.

“I know they can't rename the same name, for a horse, but it's a different animal,” Janiak said.

“There’s no reason why they can't do that. It probably doesn't do any harm.

“I will keep my eye out for the dog now up at Townsville.”

While the greyhound Takeover Target is unlikely to ever reach the great heights of the former boom galloper, he is making a fair name for himself in the North Queensland chasing game.

He jumped smartly from the eight alley on Tuesday night in the Wildcard decider and was in front not long after the boxes opened.

The son of Moving Target was not headed again to record his fourth consecutive win.

Townsville’s Takeover Target has only ever raced at the Showgrounds track in NQ and is a son of Hickmott’s broodbitch I’m A Dancer.

The veteran NQ trainer didn’t think the name for the dog would be approved when he lodged it, but he was glad it was.

“We all know the story about the horse, so it packs a bit of attention,” the trainer said.

“People always talk about it. Even when I go into the track, they say ‘oh, that was a taxi driver's horse.’

“He's not as good as the horse Takeover Target. But, I'm happy with him. I followed the horse, I am a small-time punter, but I love betting on the horses.

“So, I know the horse well and it was a good story to where the owner came from to win the big races, he did.”

The champion racehorse Takeover Target won elite sprinting races all over the globe.

The former star horse raced 41 times for 21 wins - eight at the highest level - including wins and placings in three foreign countries and more than $6 million in prizemoney.

The gelding won the Doomben 10,000 in 2007 as well as a host of other black-type triumphs in the Sunshine State.

The 79-year-old Janiak has battled with ill health in recent times and has long since handed in his training licence.

But, he still keeps an interest in the game, owning a few gallopers, and has enjoyed some recent success with Speedy One.

The five-year-old gelding won at Beaudesert in late May to grab his fifth career victory.

Speedy One was then trained by champion Brisbane mentor Tony Gollan, but has since been moved on to Paul Wallace at Toowoomba, with Janiak remaining in the ownership.

“We were just getting bad draws in Brisbane, which wasn’t suiting the horse,” Janiak said.

“He just wasn't quite up to city standard. So, we'll just make it a bit easier for him at Toowoomba.

“I just bought into a yearling with Paul as well through a friend of mine at Yeppoon, but that one will be a way away from racing now.”

The long-time racing figure often made the trip from Coffs Harbour to the Gold Coast to watch Speedy One go around, including seeing the gelding win at the venue in September of last year.

Janiak also previously raced Speedy Target with Donna Grisedale at Coffs Harbour before the seven-year-old was recently sold to the Alex Malliff barn at Mareeba.

Back to the dogs, the heats of the Townsville Cup will be held next Friday before the Final on September 11, with $75,000 going to the winner of the Group 2 event.