But the winner of more than $6 million prizemoney will not be making a return to the turf.

The 10-year-old gelding which catapulted owner/trainer Joe Janiak, a former taxi driver, to international fame, will be trackside for the three-day carnival.

Warrnambool Racing Club chief executive officer John Green was thrilled racing fans would be able to get up close to the legendary sprinter and Janiak, who will also make the trip.

“It’s a classic rags to riches tale,” Green said.

“The story of Joe Janiak and Takeover Target has captured the hearts of racing fans the world over. We’re very pleased that they’re making their way to Warrnambool to be part of our famous carnival.”

Takeover Target was retired last year after he sustained a serious leg injury in the July Cup at Newmarket in England.

He cracked a cannon bone when he put his foot in a hole after passing the winning post. It was a tragic end to Takeover Target’s star-studded career.

Janiak bought the gelding for $1250 at a tried horse sale after he had been disposed of by a Sydney trainer. After being initially trained at Queanbeyan, the horse won 21 races, eight of which were group one features like the 2004 Salinger Stakes at Flemington at last year’s TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick. But he didn’t just conquer races in Queensland, NSW, South Australia and Western Australia.

He took out events in England, Singapore and Japan. Takeover Target and Janiak’s appearance comes after Country Racing Victoria lifted prizemoney for the May Racing Carnival by $65,000. The move is tipped to attract more city trainers to the event.

CRV opted to top up 16 support races at the carnival, raising the minimum prizemoney to $20,000 a race, $5000 more than last year.

The lift in prizemoney was significant for the carnival, with support races worth more than an average country race and closer to the $30,000 minimum offered for mid-week city races.

Janiak established stables at Coff’s Harbour in 2007