Fastnet Rock Aga Khan Blueblood Wins at Randwick

Tara Madgwick - Saturday July 15

A look through the winners list at any metropolitan meeting in Australia invariably features a selection of European bred winners, but few are better bred than Fastnet Rock gelding Tazaral (IRE), who won at Randwick on Saturday for Peter and Paul Snowden.

Tazaral (IRE) powers to the line on the outside to win at Randwick - image Steve Hart

Bred by the Aga Khan and initially trained in Ireland by Dermot Weld, Tazaral had seven starts in his homeland for a maiden win and a fourth in a Listed race before being sold privately and sent to Australia to join the Peter and Paul Snowden stable.

A half-brother to two champions in Tarnawa and Tahiyra, he had three runs earlier this year for one third placing, but has come back a better horse after a good spell.

Tazaral produced a powerful sustained run for Tom Sherry, charging to the line to win the Benchmark 78 event over 1600m by more than a length running away.

"We've learned a bit about him and he about what we do here as well," Peter Snowden said. 

"Last time here he was agitated and on the chewy all the time, but he's settled really well this prep. 

"He's been great in his work and he executed very well here today. 

Advertisement

"Gee I liked that turn of foot that he had and he sustained a good gallop for a long while so it was very pleasing to see." 

Tazaral is one of three winners from three foals to race from stakes-winning Cape Cross mare Tarana and her other two winners are triple Group I winner and 2021 Champion European Older Mare Tarnawa and 2022 Champion European 2YO Filly Tahiyra, who has come out and won the Group I Irish 1000 Guineas and Royal Ascot Coronation Stakes this year.

"It's a good family. While I was at Royal Ascot, his sister won the three-year-old race there, a Group One," Snowden said. 

"His older sister is a Group One winner too, so I feel a bit left out here. 

"But he might be on his way now. I think he is progressive. He's only lightly raced, that was his eleventh start, so I think there is more upside."

Advertisment

Race Result - Racing For Good On 29/7 (Bm78) 1600m

Randwick Track: Good(4) Time: 1:34.81
1
Tazaral
- 5g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Tarana (IRE) (Cape Cross (IRE))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Tom Sherry 57.5
2
1.3
In De Summertime
- 4m Sebring (AUS) x Stormy Publisher (ARG) (Bernstein (USA))
Tnr: K R Dryden Rdr: Rachel King 54.5
3
1.6
Super Pursuit
- 6g Proisir (AUS) x Pristino (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: R D Collett Rdr: J R Collett 61.5
4
1.9
Stonecoat
- 3g Pierro (AUS) x Princess Mia (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: A Hyeronimus 61
5
2.7
Ita
- 5m All Too Hard (AUS) x Dayita (AUS) (Show A Heart (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 61
6
3.9
Gracilistyla
- 4g Medaglia D'Oro (USA) x Catkins (AUS) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Zac Lloyd 56.5
7
4.3
Festival Dancer
- 4m Choisir (AUS) x Festival Princess (IRE) (Barathea (IRE))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: Tyler Schiller 55
8
4.5
Silent Agenda
- 7g Redoute's Choice (AUS) x Beauty Belle (AUS) (Ideal Planet (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: R Hutchings 58.5
9
4.6
Philipsburg
- 5g Per Incanto (USA) x Saint Martins (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ))
Tnr: James Ponsonby Rdr: Jenny Duggan 55
10
5.8
Redwood Shadow
- 5g Redwood (GB) x Prickley Princess (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: B Prebble 57
11
6.5
Luvoir
- 6g Deep Field (AUS) x Marmi (NZ) (Lion Heart (USA))
Tnr: J Attard & L Keegan-Attard Rdr: B Lerena 57.5
12
15.0
She's The Gift
- 5m Power (GB) x Trust (NZ) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: Matthew Dale Rdr: Amy Mc Lucas 57.5
More Reading...
Four Winners for Dennis
Local trainer Robert Dennis won half of the eight-race card at Ascot Park on Friday, culminating with a special win by Sir Sterling in the Vale Tony Dennis (1400m).
Who Was Flight?
A G1 race since 1984, the Flight Stakes is a race won by special fillies - often the ones who go on to do extraordinary things on the track against all comers as older mares and that's as it should be as Hall Of Fame legend Flight exemplified that style of thoroughbred.
2YO Stakes Racing – Sale Mail
Three stakes races for new season juveniles add plenty of interest to a stellar day of racing this Saturday in Sydney and Melbourne, so let’s take a look at the Sale Mail for these races.
Recent success highlights Inglis Digital October (Early) Sale
A range of exciting racing and breeding prospects – as well as a number of in-form racehorses and shares in Stakes winners – headline the Inglis Digital October (Early) Online Sale.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
We had three heats for 2YO’s run at Warwick Farm on Friday morning over 815m with winners by Farnan, Ole Kirk and Kia Ora Stud’s first season sire Captivant, while Stay Inside had an impressive trial winner at Murray Bridge.
Kiwi Sires a Recipe for NZB Ready to Run Sale Success
Much of the NZB Ready to Run Sale’s extraordinary success has been underpinned by the stallions that have stood in New Zealand in recent decades.
Sires With Winners - Friday October 3
Here is the full list of 61 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Captivant Colt Shines at Warwick Farm Trials
Captivant’s burgeoning reputation for producing precocious 2YOs took another leap forward at today’s Warwick Farm trials, with Courthezon powering to victory in Heat 10.
Mogumber Park hoists wet sail with Marine One
This time last year, the first foals by Mogumber Park stallion Marine One were widely regarded as some of the best types on the ground in Western Australia.
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 Darley Flight Stakes
The prestigious Darley Princess Series reaches its crescendo this week with the 77th running of the $750,000 G1 ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) over Royal Randwick's famous mile.