Best On Breeding

Mark Smith - Friday November 10

Making a quick back-up from winning a mares race over 1700 metres at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum’s Tahanee (ARG) gets a chance to add to her stakes haul in Saturday’s $300,000 Group II Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.

The 5-year-old import has covered plenty of miles in her career and boasts an intriguing pedigree that first made its mark in Australia with the importation of the top-class Argentinian mare Penita (ARG).

A dual Group 1 winner, Penita (ARG) was honoured as the Champion Older Mare in Argentina in 1989.

She had eight foals, all made the track and six were winners, the best of which was the Thunder Gulch (USA) mare Vita.

The winner of the Group III AJC Fernhill Handicap and Listed Baillieu Stakes, Vita produced five winners from six to race, although none were black-type performers.

One of her unraced foals was the Danehill Dancer filly Tawafeej who was purchased by Sheikh Khalifa at the 2006 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $90,000.

Tawafeej was put in foal to Excellent Art and shipped off back to the land of her granddam.

She had a colt by Excellent Art than won a race in South Africa as did her second foal a Giant’s Causeway filly named Titlee who also placed twice at stakes level.

The Asiatic Boy colt Tinneen kept up a perfect record for his dam when winning twice in Argentina before Tawafeej visited the highly successful Storm Bird shuttler Atlantic Storm (USA) (photo Hill 'n' Dale) to produce Tahanee.

Advertisement

Unraced at two, Tahanee won the Group III San Isidro Clasico Omega at three and the Group III San Isidro Premio Eudoro J. Balsa at four.

She earned a trip to Dubai where she raced four times without winning before she was off again, this time to Australia to let Darren Weir weave his magic.

The daughter of Stormy Atlantic had run credibly in four starts before breaking through on Melbourne Cup day.

A few days earlier Stormy Atlantic had enjoyed Grade 1 success on Breeders’ Cup weekend at Del Mar when Stormy Liberal claimed the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

Now among the elder statesmen on the Hill 'n' Dale Farms roster, Stormy Atlantic is a member of the exclusive 100 stakes winners club.

On October 14 his 4yo son Victor Security won the Group 1 San Isidro Copa Melchor Posse.

Like Tahanee, Victor Security is out of a Danehill Dancer (IRE) mare.

Advertisment
More Reading...
First SW For So You Think Stallion Tamasa As Cicala Takes Out Lightning
One of just three named foals by the So You Think stallion Tamasa, the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea trained 3yo filly Cicala remained unbeaten, going three from three by winning the $120,000 Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville.
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 26
Here is the full list of 86 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Unbeaten Run Continues For Ole Kirk’s Daughter Ole Dancer
Successful in the Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic at Murray Bridge on debut back in March, the Peter Moody and Katherine Colemen trained filly Ole Dancer resumed at Sandown on Saturday, winning the Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1200m) to remain unbeaten.
Consecutive Black Type Victories For Snitzel Filly Bridal Waltz
Stepping up to open company is always a tough task, but 3yo Snitzel filly Bridal Waltz graduated from a last start Listed win over her own age to win the $200,000 Group 3 MRC Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Hello Youmzain Filly Wins NZ Last Stakes Race of Season
Talented juvenile filly Platinum Diamond made all posts a winner when she captured her second consecutive stakes victory in the last black type feature of the 2024-2025 racing season, the Listed Phils Electrical & Gypsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.
Exciting Farnan Colt Wins for Mulberry Racing
A standout in the mounting yard on type at Randwick on Saturday, Farnan colt Nashville Jack has also been an eye-catcher at the recent trials in Sydney and he delivered on potential when resuming from a spell with a stylish win.
Season Finale Flourish for So You Think
Coolmore stalwart So You Think is powering to the end of the Australian racing season with a six winner flurry on Saturday highlighted by a winning treble at Randwick led by his progressive mare Oh Diamond Lil.
St Mark’s Basilica Filly Impressive at Ascot
Due back at Coolmore Australia this spring, St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) had an impressive new winner overnight at Ascot in the UK where Princess Petrol stormed to victory.
One to Watch Wins Again in Saturday Class
The half-brother to Group II winner Stretan Angel, lightly raced three year-old Brutal gelding Glorious Moments was in a class of his own at Randwick on Saturday.
Winning Hat-Trick for Gold Standard 2YO
When an unheralded sire produces a Group I winner in their first crop as happened for Sebring stallion Gold Standard it can take a long time for the benefit of that early splash to take effect, but in his case the wait is nearly over and in the meantime Destiny’s Summit is a good reminder as to his merit.