Trained by the Victorian-based New Zealanders Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, conceived in Japan and ridden by former champion New Zealand jockey Michael Walker, the Lord Kanaloa colt Tagaloa repelled the challenge of the favourite Hanseatic in Saturday’s $1,500,000 Group 1 Neds Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Caught three deep the trip, Tagaloa was there to be beaten at the furlong when challenged by Hanseatic who enjoyed a charmed run under Tim Clark. Tagaloa was up for the fight and stayed on to defeat the Street Boss colt by a head with three-quarter of a length back to Coolmore’s regally-bred Fastnet Rock filly Personal in third.
Magic Millions winner Away Game was huge in fourth. She was caught four wide the trip and after looking likely to drop out in the straight she rallied and was going as well as anything on the line.
Third when making his career debut in the Group III Maribyrnong Plate at Flemington on November 7, Tagaloa opened his winning account at Moonee Valley on November 30.
Following a spell, he was fourth in the Group III Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield won by Hanseatic.
“He’s a classy colt this horse and Nat and Trent had him spot on,” Walker said.
“He’s a top-class colt and he’s only going to get better with age.
“Three days before the Melbourne Cup last year I couldn’t walk and I needed an operation.
“I pray to God that is the last operation on my hips, I’ve had about 12 now and I don’t want any more.”
It was a first Group 1 win in Australia for Young and Busuttin.
“I can’t believe it, I’m a bit of an emotional wreck,” Natalie Young said.
“He’s a Lord Kanaloa we bought off Arrowfield and to win a Group 1 in Australia, which has been eluding us for a while, is unbelievable.”
Bred by Arrowfield Group and Jungle Pocket Pty Ltd, Tagaloa is a product of two of Japan’s greatest living stallions.
Lord Kanaloa assumed the mantle of Japan’s most expensive stallion this year, while Tagaloa is out of a daughter by Sunday Silence’s champion son Heart’s Cry.
Purchased by Busuttin Racing for $300,000 out of the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Tagaloa is the first foal of the winning Heart’s Cry mare Vasilissa (JPN) who is a half-sister to stakes-winner Tricolore Bleu (Stay Gold) and the Group II placegetters Danon Gelato (Deep Impact) and World Impact (Deep Impact) out of the Group III Fred Darling Stakes winner and Group 1 Irish One Thousand Guineas runner-up Penkenna Princess (Pivotal).
Vasilissa (JPN) has a filly foal by Not A Single Doubt after her 2018 filly foal by Not A Single Doubt died after birth.
She was covered by 5-time Group 1 winner The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice) last spring.
