Lord Kanaloa’s multiple Group 1 daughter Almond Eye (Jpn) would have been the headline act in next weekend’s G1 Hong Kong Cup, but travel plans have been abandoned due to an elevated temperature.
While the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Tagaloa will struggle to scale such heights as the superstar mare, he does look to have a bright future after winning the Starth Haven Preston Sprint Plate at The Valley.
Bred by Arrowfield Stud, Tagaloa was quickly into stride from barrier rise to sit outside the leader and he kicked strongly at the top of the straight to put the issue beyond doubt.
“These Japanese-bred horses are the best in the world and this colt has a very bright future,” successful rider Michael Walker said. “I’m looking forward to him as a 3-year-old.
“These Japanese-bred horses are the best in the world and this colt has a very bright future.” – Michael Walker
“Trent and Natalie have done a very good job and he’s a beautiful horse, a lovely type with a lovely stride. He’s just so well-schooled and he knows what he’s out there to do, he had a lot more up his sleeve.”
Tagaloa had finished third on debut in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate at Flemington and while he ran well, the big crowd did stir him up.
Tagaloa
“He did everything right here and the other day he got very wound up. The occasion got the better of him and he was in the wrong part of the track,” Busuttin said.
“He’s come here and been a lot calmer and taken it all in his stride. That’s what he’s been like at home.
“He’s a good-natured colt and Cup week can get the better of a few people doesn’t it so you can forgive him for that and he’s come back even better.”
Arrowfield graduate
Bred by Arrowfield Stud, Tagaloa was purchased by Busuttin for $300,000 at the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale and is out of Vasilissa (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}), who won once over 1800 metres in her home land.
She is a half-sister to the multiple stakes winner Tricolore Bleu (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) with their dam the G3 Fred Darling S. winner Penkenna Princess (GB) (Pivotal {GB}).
Tagaloa as a yearling
Busuttin said the $2 million The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic and the G1 Blue Diamond S. were obvious races to be considering for Tagaloa.
“He’s a professional and they are nice options for us. I’m sure there are better colts and fillies to come out yet for the Blue Diamond, and the Magic Millions is very hard to turn down.”
Tagaloa had a comfortable length to spare on the line on the Lindsay Park representative Baaqyah (I Am Invincible), who had also finished runner-up in the Maribyrnong Plate.
Yulong Island (Exceed And Excel) gave a good account of himself on debut with a sound effort for third for Team Hawkes .
“He looked fantastic and he’s a typical big, strong Exceed And Excel colt,” Wayne Hawkes said. “He’s a real professional and no matter what you do, sometimes they can come to the races and flip out, but he’s gone the right way.”
