Trainer Mark Johnston riles Royal Ascot-bound Aussies with drug slur

A third visit by the Joe Janiak-trained gelding has been soured by Johnston's claims, in his Kingsley Klarion newsletter, that the sprinter - winner of the King's Stand three years ago - had been given an unfair advantage because of steroid use.

Steroid star: Takeover Target ridden by Jay Ford (red/black) wins the King's Stand Stakes

The Middleham trainer also claims that he should never have been invited back to the Berkshire course after failing a dope test in Hong Kong in 2006.

But Melbourne trainer Peter Moody, who saddles Magnus in Tuesday's King's Stand, said: 'I would suggest Mark Johnston is one of the most unpopular trainers in England and I don't think anyone will take much notice of what he has to say anyway. He is talking out of his backside.

'We have far more stricter drugs rules than they could ever dream of having here in England. Everyone, myself included, try and give our horses every advantage but at the same time try and work within the rules and this particular drug wasn't against the rules of racing.

'It was only banned in Australia in February and everyone was given sufficient warning and stopped using it. Have a look at this horse's current form since he's been off this so-called wonder drug.'

Johnston has twice taken a swipe at Takeover Target, who tested positive for the drug 17-alphahydroxyprogesterone hexanoate (HPC), a calming and appetite stimulant, after arriving from Japan for the Hong Kong Sprint.

Janiak, who said Johnston's comments were unjustified, added: 'Going on his Singapore win you'd say my horse was in the form of his life. He has got a couple of runs under his belt and his form is good, so I'm pretty confident.'

Takeover Target will also tackle the Golden Jubilee Stakes, in which he ran second last year.