Saturday's Group1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick will be the former Queanbeyan-trained superstar's first race since controversially losing the Villiers Handicap on protest in January.

Takeover Target has won only one of his past three first-up attempts but Janiak is confident the eight-year-old can better that record at the weekend.

"He's pretty fit, he's squealing in the yard, he's like a bloody two-year-old again he's that energetic," the trainer said.

"I haven't been able to weigh him because all the scales are broken out here at the moment but from looking at him, he's probably 10kg off his ideal racing weight and he'll lose that on the float trip to Sydney which will be perfect."

Takeover Target was one of 12 nominations yesterday for the $500,000 TJ Smith Stakes.

His main competition is likely to come from Group1-winners Apache Cat, Magnus and Paratroopers.

Regular jockey Jay Ford will again be on board at Randwick on Saturday.

Takeover Target will have his final serious hit-out for the race at Canberra this morning.

The son of Celtic Swing upped the ante in his preparation last week with a 12-length barrier trial win at Canberra, clocking the fastest time ever recorded on the Acton track.

Janiak believed the impressive trial victory, along with this morning's gallop and Saturday morning's float trip, would have the galloper close to his prime for the TJ Smith.

"He looks good, he's jumping out of his skin and is probably even a little ahead of where we thought he might be."

Takeover Target will enter quarantine two days after the TJ Smith to prepare for his third international campaign.

Janiak remains unsure whether the horse will spend his required two-week quarantine period at Canterbury in Sydney or Sandown in Melbourne.

If it's in Melbourne, the horse will be floated to the Victorian capital on Monday morning.

Takeover Target will then head to Singapore for the Group1 Kris Flyer International at Kranji racecourse on May 18.

Following that, he will fly to England to contest the Royal Ascot double the King's Stand Stakes and Golden Jubilee on June 21 and July 11 respectively.