Tagaloa bids to make history
“Tags is back,” chanted co-trainer Natalie Young shortly after Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa) crossed the line first in the CS Hayes Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m) at Flemington a fortnight ago.
The glint in her eye and huge smile beaming from under her emerald green hat, worn to match Tagaloa’s new Yulong racing colours, reflected the love she has for this colt, who she hand–picked at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $300,000.
“I have always had that feeling he would be my Group 1 horse from the first time he walked into our stable or, actually, the first time he walked out of the Arrowfield barn to be honest,” said Young.
“He’s a pretty special horse, I love him to bits. He probably gets more attention than Trent (my husband) half the time.”
Tagaloa is a Samoan word meaning ‘supreme ruler’, a name Young thought would be perfect for the colt.
“Even though he’s Japanese bred, it’s a very cool name. I thought he’s destined for a Group 1 with a name like that,” she said.
Tagaloa lived up to expectations when delivering Trent Bussutin and Natalie Young an elusive Group 1 win in last year’s Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) and today he will aim to become the first horse to win the Blue Diamond-Australian Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) double.
His impressive win in the CS Hayes Stakes will stand him in good stead to write racing history at headquarters and Young is pleased with his condition.
“It’s nice to get that pressure off our back and try and get that Group 1 as a three-year-old,” said Young. “He’s going into it really well.”
A big key to Tagaloa’s successful return as an autumn three-year-old has been his adoring co-trainer and Young is relishing the added pressure of him being a valuable future prospect for the Yulong stallion roster in Victoria.
“If you are not feeling the pressure you are not doing your job properly, so you need to feel that as a trainer and that’s what drives you to try and be the best you can,” said Young.
“With him it’s all about trying to keep that stud value. It was pretty important he got that good win as a three-year-old and the CS Hayes is a good race for a stallion.”
Young has even dusted off the helmet and boots to ride the colt’s trackwork this campaign.
“I somehow came out of retirement. I’m not sure how that happened,” she said.
“He’s amazing to ride. He’s very laid back. I was quite surprised because when I first jumped on him, I expected him to be up on the bit and strong, but he comes up under you and gallops and he travels and he doesn’t leave it on the track.”
Being able to ride him daily and understand him better has enabled Young to make a few crucial gear tweaks that have helped make a difference to his racing performance.
“He lays in a bit so I tweaked the bit and put a cross-over noseband on him,” said Young. “They are minor gear changes but have had a major impact on him. He’s got it there but you really have to get it out of him.”
As well as juggling her riding and training commitments with the Australian Guineas favourite, Young has been busy inspecting Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale yearlings at Oaklands Junction this week.
She plans on buying up to 50 young horses at this year’s round of auctions and is always on the hunt for the next Tagaloa.
“You can’t train fresh air so you have to have those horses coming through and that nice stock so you put your hand up, put yourself in debt and worry about it later,” said Young.
“We always have a real good look at Lord Kanaloa’s crop, but they are out of our price range now. We got him (Tagaloa) for a bargain at Magic Millions. I’d like to get a couple more of them though that’s for sure.”