By Tom Frary
There were few surprise outcomes on Leopardstown's Irish Champions card on Saturday, merely simple rubber-stamping of the positions of the season's category leaders. Step forward The Aga Khan's G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Coronation S. heroine Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}–Tarana {Ire}, by Cape Cross {Ire}) in the G1 Coolmore America “Justify” Matron S., which has a history of upsets but which this time kept to script. If Dermot Weld, who had earlier opted to withdraw Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), had concerns about the winner's readiness beforehand one look at the body language of Chris Hayes would have steadied the nerves.
Content to follow the leaders throughout the early stages in this berth for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, the half-sister to the luminary Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) cruised to the fore soon into the straight and once committed took command a furlong out. Soon beyond reach, the 5-6 favourite had 1 1/4 lengths to spare over Rogue Millennium (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) at the line, with half a length back to Just Beautiful (GB) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) in third.
“No matter how many Group 1s you're fortunate in life to win, that will always go down as a special one for us–all the pressure was on this filly and she keeps winning,” Weld said of the second of three successful TDN Rising Stars on the card. “Leopardstown has been very lucky for me and the way to ride it, like most tracks, is to just keep it simple and ride her with confidence. She's a very talented filly. She was eight to 10 kilos heavier today than when she won at Royal Ascot and I was just very happy when I saw Chris cruising there on the outside. Obviously the Breeders' Cup has to be a possibility and a decision will be made on whether she's kept in training for next year.”
Pedigree Notes
Tahiyra is the third foal out of the Listed Oyster S. and Listed Martin Malony S. winner and G3 Curragh Cup-placed Tarana (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), whose first was the aforementioned GI Breeders' Cup Turf, G1 Prix Vermeille and G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Tarnawa who was also second in this card's feature and the Arc. The second dam Tarakala (Ire) (Dr Fong), who captured the Listed Galtres S. and was third in the G3 Noblesse S., is connected to the G1 Prix Royal-Oak hero and G1 Prix du Cadran runner-up Tiraaz (Lear Fan) and the G1 Phoenix S. heroine Damson (Ire) (Entrepreneur {GB}). Tarana's 2-year-old colt by Frankel (GB) is named Tarafi (Ire), while she also has a yearling filly by Lope De Vega (Ire).
FOUR Group 1 triumphs!
The three-year-old and Classic winner Tahiyra is not for passing in the Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes 🏇@LeopardstownRC #IrishChampionsWeekend pic.twitter.com/V1X1cvBzXy
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 9, 2023
Saturday, Leopardstown, Ireland
COOLMORE AMERICA JUSTIFY MATRON S.-G1, €400,000, Leopardstown, 9-9, 3yo/up, f/m, 8fT, 1:37.50, gd.
1–TAHIYRA (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Siyouni (Fr)
1st Dam: Tarana (Ire) (MSW & GSP-Ire, $141,525), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Tarakala (Ire), by Dr Fong
3rd Dam: Tarakana, by Shahrastani
'TDN Rising Star'. O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (IRE); T-Dermot Weld; J-Chris Hayes. €240,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, 6-5-1-0, $1,382,723. *1/2 to Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal), MG1SW-Fr, GISW-US, MGSW & G1SP-Ire, $4,508,464. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Rogue Millennium (Ire), 133, f, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Hawaafez (GB) (GSW-Eng, $111,512), by Nayef. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (35,000gns 2yo '21 TATMA). O-The Rogues Gallery; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (IRE); T-Tom Clover. €80,000.
3–Just Beautiful (GB), 133, m, 5, Pride Of Dubai (Aus)–Astrelle (Ire) (GSP-Eng), by Makfi (GB). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (8,000gns Ylg '19 TAOCT; 625,000gns 3yo '21 TATMA). O-Moyglare Stud Farm; B-Essafinaat UK Ltd (GB); T-Paddy Twomey. €40,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, HF, 1 3/4. Odds: 0.83, 12.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Meditate (Ire), Jumbly (GB), Zarinsk (GB), Prosperous Voyage (Ire), Ocean Jewel (Ire), Olivia Maralda (Ire), Clever And Cool (Ire), Gozen (Ire), Cadeau Belle (Fr). Scratched: Homeless Songs (Ire).
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