By Tom Frary
Brushing aside some talented 3-year-olds for a repeat success in Saturday's G3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Give Thanks S. at Cork, The Aga Khan's Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) served notice that she will be a force to be reckoned with in any company in 2020. Settled in mid-division on the rail by Oisin Orr, the 8-1 shot travelled easily and when switched delivered a strong effort down the outer to swamp the smooth-going 11-10 favourite Cayenne Pepper (Ire) (Australia {GB}) at the two pole. Quickly settling the issue, the homebred who also took the G3 Blue Wind S. at Naas last May and G2 Blandford S. at The Curragh in September was impressive in the way she kept that G1 Irish Oaks runner-up safely at bay to score by 1 3/4 lengths. The third in that Classic, Passion (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), was 3 3/4 lengths away in third. “She cruised into it nicely,” Orr explained. “I thought they went a good gallop all the way and she quickened up and won well.”
Since turning three, Tarnawa has suffered just three reversals with two of those coming on visits to England. Only 11th in the G1 Epsom Oaks last June and ninth in the G1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares S. at Ascot in October, the chestnut will have to banish those memories if taken across the Irish Sea this term. The manner of her defeat of one of the country's leading middle-distance 3-year-olds suggests she has improved and Kris Weld was on hand to say, “That was very pleasing-we were hopeful coming here as it had been the plan to start back today. I think she's a very good filly-not many win three group races as 3-year-olds and I felt that was slightly overlooked in the lead-up to the race. We have no real plan-we'll work from here. She didn't show up at Ascot on her last start last year, but hopefully we can go back there.”
Tarnawa, who becomes the first dual winner of this, was also extending trainer Dermot Weld's record of seven wins since it was inaugurated in 2003. She is the first foal out of the dual listed scorer Tarana (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who was also third in the G3 Curragh Cup and is a daughter of the Listed Galtres S. winner and G3 Noblesse S. third Tarakala (Ire) (Dr. Fong). This is also the family of the G3 Princess Royal S. winner Tashtiya (Ire) (Shergar {GB}), the G3 Prix Messidor scorer Tassmoun (Kalamoun {GB}) and the G1 Prix Royal-Oak hero and G1 Prix du Cadran runner-up Tiraaz (Lear Fan), as well as the precocious G1 Phoenix S. heroine Damson (Ire) (Entrepreneur {GB}). Tarana's unraced 2-year-old gelding by Fastnet Rock (Aus) is named Tazaral (Ire).
Saturday, Cork, Ireland
IRISH STALLION FARMS EBF GIVE THANKS S.-G3, €76,700, Cork, 8-8, 3yo/up, f/m, 12fT, 2:35.78, gd.
1–TARNAWA (IRE), 137, f, 4, by Shamardal
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
O-H.H. Aga Khan; B-His Highness the Aga Khan's Studs S.C. (IRE); T-Dermot Weld; J-Oisin Orr. €39,000. Lifetime Record: 11-5-2-2, $344,739. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Cayenne Pepper (Ire), 127, f, 3, Australia (GB)–Muwakaba, by Elusive Quality. (195,000gns Wlg '17 TATFOA). O-Mrs S Kelly; B-G. H. S. Bloodstock & J C Bloodstock (IRE); T-Jessie Harrington. €13,000.
3–Passion (Ire), 127, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Dialafara (Fr), by Anabaa. (800,000gns Ylg '18 TATOCT). O-Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Lynch Bages Ltd & Camas Park Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €6,500.
Margins: 1 3/4, 3 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 8.00, 1.10, 2.75.
Also Ran: Snapraeceps (Ire), Nan Yehi (Ire), Elizabethofaragon (Ire), Heliac (GB), Loveisthehigherlaw (GB), Getawiggleon (Fr). Scratched: Bolleville (Ire), Traisha (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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