The 2008 NSW Autumn Racing Carnival moves across Sydney this week to Royal Randwick with four Group I races to open the three days of racing at the Australian Jockey Club’s headquarters.

There is the $1.8m, Group I, David Jones AJC Australian Derby (2400m), the $1.8m, Emirates Doncaster Handicap (1600m), the $450,000, Group I, Inglis Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), and the $500,000, Group I, Sydney City Lexus TJ Smith Stakes (1200m).

There is much tradition at Randwick; after all, the first race recorded at Randwick was a private match. On 29 May 1860 racing commenced full time at Randwick, with a grandstand seating 700 and a total crowd of 6,000 in attendance.

The AJC Derby was first run at Randwick in 1861 and was won by Kyogle.

But the greatest attribute of racing in Australia is that it is available to all comers, tradition having its place, but just that, and it has the ability to change people’s lives. Horses, jockeys and trainers become public heroes, surrounded by the tradition, but winning the races all the same.

On Saturday Takeover Target returns to Randwick to have his final race before another international trek to that bastion of all tradition, Royal Ascot in England. But this thoroughbred with modest race track beginnings takes it all in his stride, he is there to race, and race well.

After racing resumed in Sydney after the spring equine influenza shut-down it was Takeover Target, and owner and trainer Joe Janiak, who came to Randwick to booster spirits and the first day back the eight-year-old thrilled the crowd with a win over former Golden Slipper winner Dance Hero.

There were two further races in that series, and another win and a relegation to second after Takeover Target drifted out onto Honor In War in the Group II Villiers Stakes.

Janiak declared that was racing and wandered off unconcerned to check on his horse. The trainer, who had purchased a previously unsound Takeover Target at a Winter Thoroughbred Sale for $1500, had travelled the world with his horse, learnt about wearing tails and top hat at Royal Ascot, and taken on the blue bloods of racing.

Tradition is fine, but it was just another race, and there were plans to make for the next trip to England.

Janiak sent Takeover Target to Canberra to spell and prepare for the TJ Smith Stakes, his one race before jetting out of Melbourne bound Singapore and the Group I KrisFlyer International Sprint (1200m) at Kranji on May 18th, and then to Ascot for another crack at the feature English sprints.

A jump-out last week by Takeover Target showed Janiak that his planning was on really on target, with the horse speeding over the 800m with times to suit. Regular jockey Jay Ford was also very pleased with the work-out, although cautious about the sprint first up after the break from racing since January.

The 1200m might be a shade too short for Takeover Target now, with 1400m more to his liking, but the wet Sydney autumn could make the track slower, and giving those that can run the longer distance, and advantage over those with pure speed.

But no matter what the public favourite will be prepared to give his all on Saturday, because that is what he does best.

For the record Takeover Target is an eight-year-old gelding by Celtic Swing, his sire’s best runner in Australia. He has raced 31 times for 16 wins and eight places spanning three countries, and he has won stakes of $4,561,921.