International star Takeover Target outlasted Australia's reigning champion sprinter Apache Cat after a thrilling home straight duel to win the Group Two Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot.Nine-year-old Takeover Target ($2.90 fav), with regular jockey Jay Ford on board, led throughout in Saturday's 1200m feature but had to dig deep to withstand the finish of Apache Cat ($3.70) who went down by just a nose.Local star Marasco ($5.50) was 2-1/4 lengths away third.It was Takeover Target's first start since
International star Takeover Target outlasted Australia's reigning champion sprinter Apache Cat after a thrilling home straight duel to win the Group Two Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot.
Nine-year-old Takeover Target ($2.90 fav), with regular jockey Jay Ford on board, led throughout in Saturday's 1200m feature but had to dig deep to withstand the finish of Apache Cat ($3.70) who went down by just a nose.
Local star Marasco ($5.50) was 2-1/4 lengths away third.
It was Takeover Target's first start since his gallant fourth to Kingsgate Native in the Group One Golden Jubilee (1200m) at Royal Ascot in England in June.
The victory took his record to 18 wins and 10 placings from 36 starts for prizemoney of almost $5.5 million.
Ford had no hesitation in taking Takeover Target to the lead from his rails barrier but he was pressured early by West Australian Danny Beau ($4.80) while Corey Brown on Apache Cat was biding his time in third place on the fence.
Takeover Target sprinted quickly at the top of the straight and Brown was able to push Apache Cat through when Danny Beau began to feel the pressure.
The baldy-faced Apache Cat set out after Takeover Target but narrowly missed out in a head-bobbing finish.
Marasco bounced back from his failure in last week's Railway Stakes for a fast-finishing third with Danny Beau fourth.