Australia's world-beating sprinter Takeover Target continues to grow in stature, despite the drug drama that surrounds him in Hong Kong.
A conference of racing handicappers from 14 countries announced in Hong Kong that Takeover Target was an almost unanimous choice as the superior runner in Sunday's $HK14 million ($A2,284,496) Hong Kong Sprint (1200m).
Already acknowledged as the best turf sprinter in the world, Takeover Target received top votes from all but one of the handicappers - South Africa's Mike Wanklin being the only dissenter.
Australia was represented on the panel by Racing Victoria's Greg Carpenter who pointed out the Sprint had been won by an Australian-bred horse since its inception.
Last year the first five across the line were Australian-bred.
"Takeover Target rates among the best Australian sprinters of the past 15 years, up with horses like Schillaci and Mahogany," Carpenter said.
And the super sprinter is only getting better.
The world's handicappers lifted him from his previous peak rating of 119 to 121 after his last start win in the Sprinters Stakes in Japan.
No runner in the four International races on Sunday received top votes from all the handicappers with the French-trained Pride, favourite for the Hong Kong Cup, coming closest.
She received top votes from every nation, but one of the three Hong Kong handicappers on the panel rated her the third pick in the $HK20 million race.
French handicapper Gerald Sauque said Pride was in the best form of her career and ready to atone for her second to local star Vengeance Of Rain in the same race last year.
"Even if Vengeance Of Rain is as good as he was last year, he won't beat Pride this time," O'Gorman said.
In the Hong Kong Mile, the handicappers came up with local runner Armada, trained by John Size, ahead of another local, Bullish Luck.
The world champion mare Ouija Board got the votes in the Hong Kong Vase with only the Irish and Japanese handicappers failing to tip her on top.
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