Melbourne racegoers will be denied a chance to see champion sprinter Takeover Target at Flemington tomorrow after it was confirmed yesterday the former Queanbeyan galloper would not take his place in the Group1 Patinack Farm Classic (1200m).
A stone bruise has delayed Takeover Target's return to the racetrack and he will now head straight to Perth next week to contest to weight-for-age races during its Summer Carnival.
Trainer Joe Janiak said the bruising to his sprinter was not serious.
''He pulled a shoe off in a trial on Tuesday and has a bit of a stone bruise,'' Janiak said.
''It's not serious but he would have to be right at his top to race at this level on Saturday so he will stay at home. We will head straight to Perth with him.''
The set back rids tomorrow's Flemington program of the much anticipated clash between Takeover Target and Apache Cat.
The all conquering Apache Cat will take his place with trainer Greg Eurell thrilled with the baldy-faced chestnut.
''He won a trial at Cranbourne on Monday,'' Eurell said.
''It was only over 800m but was enough to top him off for the race.''
Anthony Cummings will start Turffontein in the race as he chases his first Spring Carnival success.
While the Melbourne Cup carnival has been a triumph for his father Bart Cummings it hasn't been so good for Anthony whose Melbourne Cup starter Red Lord could only manage 12th behind Bart's Cup winner Viewed. Among the most frustrating times for Cummings has been the efforts produced by Turffontein whose five starts in Melbourne this spring have netted two fourths and two placings including a third in the Group1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m).
The four-year-old, who won the Queensland Guineas (1600m) on a heavy track earlier this year, will line up in the Patinack Farm Classic in an attempt to validate his trainer's faith in him as a Group1 horse.
''He is a deserved Group1 winner without having a Group1 beside his name,'' Cummings said.
''He's been placed in a Group1 at weight-for-age and trialled very well on Tuesday so I'm confident he will do well.''
One of Turffontein's fourth placings came last Saturday in the AAMI Travel Insurance Stakes (1400m) and Cummings said he had come through that race better than he could have hoped.
Meanwhile, Cummings will be trying to resurrect the career of Rosehill Guineas winner Dealer Principal in the other Group1 race on Saturday's Flemington program, the Emirates Stakes (1600m).
Dealer Principal has had four starts this spring, two in Melbourne and two in Sydney, without winning and a proposed sale to Asia fell through.
''He won a barrier trial in Sydney on Friday and has pleased me since,'' Cummings said.
''It will be my last-ditch attempt to win a race at the carnival if Turffontein can't do it.''
Turffontein and Dealer Principal will be ridden by Peter Robl. AAP
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