Yulong Purchase Blue Diamond winner Tagaloa

Media Release - Saturday February 29

Yulong have added another Group 1 winner to their burgeoning stallion roster this week, purchasing G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa {JPN}) who will continue to race for the Busuttin Racing stable.

Blue Diamond winner Tagaloa will stand at Yulong  at the end of his racing career - image Grant CourtneyTagaloa epitomises what were looking for in a modern Australian stallion - hes good looking, a Group 1 Blue Diamond winner at two and a complete outcross,” said Sam Fairgray, Yulongs Chief Operating Officer. We believe hell be even better at three.”

Lord Kanaloa is Japans most exciting emerging sire and is poised to take over the mantle from Deep Impact. Its a privilege to stand a son of such a dominant young sire and brilliant sprinter.

It has been a milestone day for Yulong, with Hungry Heart winning the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes at Randwick, becoming our first Group winner from our first Magic Millions draft and now securing our third stallion for the Yulong roster.”

The first foal from winning Japanese mare Vasilissa (JPN) (Heart's Cry {JPN}), Tagaloa is by Japanese Horse of the Year, brilliant sprinter and exceptional sire Lord Kanaloa (JPN), whose stud career has started in unprecedented fashion at the Shadai Stallion Stallion.

Lord Kanaloa topped the first season standings with 32 winners, some 12 clear of his nearest rival, with his debut crop including six-time Group 1 winner, Horse of the Year and world’s highest rated 3-year-old, Almond Eye. Those results were strong enough to make Lord Kanaloa the second-leading sire of 2-year-olds among the general sire population, with only the incomparable Deep Impact proving superior.

Trent Busuttin of Busuttin Racing was effusive in his endorsement on keeping a colt of this quality in the local breeding population.

Yulong purchasing Tagaloa is a huge tick of approval for the Victorian breeding industry,” he said. These types normally end up in the Hunter Valley.”

To have a horse like him, a stunning physical and Blue Diamond winner with an international outcross pedigree, stay in Victoria is a massive vote of confidence. Yulong are leading the pack, setting the standard of new development in the Victorian industry.”

Making an early impression like his sire, Tagaloa won his only trial before stepping out to place third in the Group 3 Maribymong Plate on debut. He then backed up with a win in the Strath Haven Preston 2YO Plate.

Advertisement

Following a short spell, Tagaloa started fresh up in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude to place fourth before landing his biggest title to date in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes, beating home Hanseatic, Away Game and Letzbeglam.

Arrowfield Stud offered Tagaloa as a yearling at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale with Busuttin Racing securing the standout colt for $300,000. Trent Busuttin had seen Lord Kanaloa race in Hong Kong and was drawn to his brilliant speed, which naturally attracted him to his yearlings.

Tagaloa was an outstanding yearling and always looked like hed grow into a lovely horse,” said Busuttin.

We were impressed by his temperament as a yearling, this came through as an early 2-year-old and makes him a beautiful horse to deal with now.

On type hes a big powerful, striking colt. Hes got a lovely head, athletic physique and a great frame. To be honest, what hes doing now at two is a bonus and he been done on raw, natural talent - hes going to make a very exciting 3-year-old.”

The announcement of Tagaloa, in a deal co-ordinated by Ozzie Kheir and Matt Becker, comes off the back of purchasing a significant share in Group 1 CF Orr Stakes winner Alabama Express (Redoute's Choice) earlier in the week, who will be joining Grunt (NZ) (OReilly {NZ}) on its roster.

News from Yulong

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Wednesday June 4
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Almanzor Colt Wins G2 Italian Derby
Wootton Bassett sired the winner of the Group I Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) on Sunday in Camille Pissarro and then overnight his champion Cambridge Stud based son Almanzor (Fr) produced the winner of the Group II Derby Italiano (2200m).
Stakes Performed Zousain Filly Too Good At Doomben
Third in the Listed Calaway Stakes two starts back, lightly raced two-year-old Zousain filly Sweet Pretender produced the goods at Doomben, charging late to win the Mullins Lawyers QTIS Two-Year-Old Maiden Plate (1350m).
Sires With Winners - Tuesday June 3
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Monday June 2
Here is the full list of 40 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Pride of Jenni to Visit I Am Invincible - Match Made in Heaven
Three-time Champion Sire I Am Invincible has been confirmed as the first mating for reigning Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year Pride Of Jenni, who will head to the breeding barn this season following a phenomenal racing career.
Blueblood Import - American-Bred Jillaroo Records First Win
Purchased at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by Ciaron Maher, the now 4yo mare Jillaroo (USA) (Curlin) initially started her racing career in the United States but after an Australian debut second at Caulfield in early May, recorded her maiden victory at Doomben.
Frosty Girl impressive on debut
The Chris Waller-trained Frosty Girl made the perfect start to her career when coming from last to land the Asahi Super Dry Plate (1300m) on debut at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
$1500 Weanling Becomes $525,000 Top Lot at MM National Yearling Finale
A colt by Harry Angel set a new benchmark in Australia for his sire and topped the final day of the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale when selling for $525,000 to conclude a hugely successful two weeks of sales.
Winx to Visit Too Darn Hot
World champion racehorse Winx is set for a new chapter in her stud career this spring with an announcement from her ownership group of Peter Tighe, Debbie Kepitis and Elizabeth Treweeke that Too Darn Hot (GB) is the chosen one.