The CS Hayes S. at Flemington has in recent times proved to be a reliable guide to the outcome of the G1 Australian Guineas when the 3-year-olds return to Melbourne headquarters.
The double has been completed four times in the last six years by Alligator Blood (All Too Hard), the now Yulong-based Grunt (NZ), Hey Doc (Duporth) and current Newgate resident Wandjina.
So the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Tagaloa has history very much in his favour to add the Australian Guineas to his record and further lift his stallion profile for his future career at stud at Yulong.
The Victorian operation bought into Tagaloa following his win in last season’s G1 Blue Diamond S. and had subsequently been dogged by wide barriers and the Busuttin/Young team showed what he was capable of.
“Tag is back and what a relief, it’s fantastic. He dominated that race and in a few weeks will meet a lot of them at set weights,” Young said.
“Tag is back and what a relief, it’s fantastic. He dominated that race and in a few weeks will meet a lot of them at set weights.” - Natalie Young
She was referring to the conditions of the Australian Guineas after Tagaloa had to give weight to all of his rivals on Saturday and has the class and pace to make use of his inside gate.
The colt jumped away smartly to race in the trail and was off the fence before the turn and relished the wide open spaces of Flemington to stride to the front and never looked like being reeled in over the closing 350 metres.
“It’s great he’s held his value for Yulong with a Group 3 win and we’re looking forward to getting him to the Australian Guineas,” Young said.
Tagaloa has yet to be tested beyond 1400 metres, but winning rider Luke Currie doesn’t see him being troubled by a step up in trip.
“He was strong through the line and I don’t think a mile will be a problem,” he said.
“He was strong through the line and I don’t think a mile will be a problem.” – Luke Currie
Tagaloa had finished third in the G3 Manfred S. in his first appearance since the spring and showed obvious improvement on Saturday with that run under his belt.
“We know he’s got a motor, but he hasn’t showed it for a little bit – he definitely did that today,” Currie said. "He has been drawing horrible gates and today I followed the leader and popped off to take over at the top of the straight and he was really good.”
The genuine Aysar (Deep Field), runner-up in the G1 Caulfield Guineas last preparation, finished runner-up after having every chance and the resuming Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel) turned in an eye-catching effort for third.
Cherry Tortoni (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), also a fresh runner, made ground well for fourth while, the Jamie Richards-trained Brando (NZ) (Savabeel) was caught wide in the running and drifted out to tail the field home.
Bred by Arrowfield Stud, Tagaloa was purchased for $300,000 by Busuttin Racing at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He is a son of Vasilissa (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}), a half-sister to the stakes winner Tricolore Bleu (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}).
They are out of Penkenna Princess (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who won the G3 Fred Darling S. and was runner-up in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas.
