Prepared by David Payne and ridden by James McDonald, Tarka had won his past two starts in easier grade carrying a whopping 61kg to victory in a Benchmark 66 event over 1600 metres at Warwick Farm last month.
Tarka returns to scale
"I think he's a Derby horse, he's so tough," said James McDonald.
"Nobody was tipping him, but I told my manager not many three year-olds can win under 61 kg. He just keeps trying."
A homebred for Kia Ora, Tarka has three wins and a third from five starts with prizemoney just shy of $160,000.
"He keeps surprising us!" said David Payne.
"He's not very big, but he just keeps improving. I think the further he goes the better, so we'll look towards the Gloaming Stakes and Spring Champion Stakes."
The sixth stakes-winner for Black Caviar's half-brother All Too Hard, Tarka is the third winner from Gayika, a full sister to South African Horse of the Year Igugu and half-sister to Group III winner Honorius.
Kia Ora sold a Deep Field colt from Gayika for $170,000 at Inglis Classic this year with David Payne the buyer, while Gayika herself was also sold at the 2018 Inglis Broodmare Sale fetching $23,000 when bought by Kingstar Farm and was covered by Bull Point this week.
All Too Hard stands at Vinery Stud and looks remarkably good value at a fee of $33,000.
