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. 

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"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."

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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
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