Still a 3-year-old in the northern hemisphere, the royally-bred The Taj Mahal (IRE) gave trainer Robert Hickmott a parting gift when downing stablemate Almandin (GER) in Saturday's $300,000 Group II Quayclean Zipping Classic (2400m) at Sandown.
After heading the Lloyd Williams-owned Macedon Lodge for the past year, Hickmott will set up his own stables in Adelaide.
Fourth in the French Derby and runner-up in the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park, when trained by Aidan O'Brien, The Taj Mahal (IRE) came into the race off the back of an excellent fourth in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes won by Tosen Stardom (JPN).
Given a positive ride by Ben Melham, The Taj Mahal (IRE) led at a solid gallop. Still travelling well within himself, the son of Galileo looked the winner well before the home turn.
He required little more than a hand ride to defeat Almandin (GER) by three and a half-lengths with Big Duke (IRE) a further one and quarter length back in third. (photo Darryl Sherer).
"It's a great credit to the team, they only took over in the last seven days and they have done a good job to get their head around him," part-owner Nick Williams said."
"Almandin ran well so it's been a good day all round in a race that is dear to our heart.
"We were keen to run him today to learn a bit more about him. It was his first go at a mile and a half so his done a good job.
Williams praised Robert Hickmott for the job he did with the stable.
Rob's done a fantastic job for us," he said.
"I think he has been here 15 or 16 years and he has been the head trainer since 2008.
"In fact, the first race he won was with Zipping here in this race.
"We are parting on very, very good terms. Rob's a great man and he wants to have a go at it himself and he's going with our absolute blessing."
There have been few better bred racehorses to grace the Sandown track than The Taj Mahal (IRE) who threatened to be the black sheep of an overachieving family whose success spans the globe.
The son of Galileo is a brother to four stakes winner headed by the 4-time Group 1 winner Gleneagles the Champion 2YO Colt in Europe & Ireland in 2014 and Champion 3YO Miler in Europe & Ireland in 2015.
His sister Happily won the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Chantilly and the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stud Stakes at The Curragh while another sister Marvellous was the Second Top Filly on The 2015 Irish 3YO Free Hcp and Joint Third Top Filly on The 2014 European 3YO Free Hcp following her win in the Group 1 One Thousand Guineas.
Yet another sister, Coolmore, won the Group III Park Stakes and placed in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks.
The five stakes winners are the first five foals to race out of the Group II Cherry Hinton Stakes winner You'resothrilling (Storm Cat) a sister to the champion Giant's Causeway.
The Taj Mahal becomes the 266th stakes winner for Coolmore's perennial champion stallion Galileo.
