Series continues with Centaur

Australian raider Takeover Target appears to have his Japanese rivals over a barrel at Chukyo Racecourse in Sunday's Grade 2 Centaur Stakes, a $995,000 six-furlong turf dash that is the fifth leg of the Global Sprint Challenge.

Owned and trained by ex-cabbie Joe Janiak, Takeover Target leads the series by virtue of victories in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes at Flemington and the Group 2 King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot. He has also been third in the Sprint Challenge's Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes. Although he managed to finish only seventh last time in the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket, the 7-year-old gelding should be good enough to hold his 17 Centaur rivals at bay. Regular rider Jay Ford has the call.