Tarzino bounced back from a last-out head defeat in the G1 Australian Guineas Mar. 5 to notch his second Group 1 score in Saturday's G1 Rosehill Guineas, while at the same time providing some early consolation for trainer Mick Price, whose Golden Slipper favourites Extreme Choice (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) and Flying Artie (Artie Schiller) were beaten a race later.
Breaking his maiden at second asking and on his 3-year-old debut in late August, Tarzino followed up with a mile handicap win at Caulfield Sept. 19 before attempting the G1 Caulfield Guineas over the same trip three weeks later. A traffic-troubled trip saw him wind up seventh, beaten less than four lengths behind Press Statement (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}) that day, and he finished third stretching out to 2040 metres in Moonee Valley's G2 The Vase S. two weeks later. Tarzino proved his affinity for a longer trip when taking Flemington's G1 Victoria Derby by two lengths Oct. 31, after which he was shelved for a much-deserved summer holiday. Fourth, beaten 1 1/2 lengths, when resuming in Caulfield's 1400 metre G2 Autumn S. Feb. 13, the bay suffered a controversial defeat in the Australian Guineas after rider Craig Newitt's claim of foul against the winner, Palentino (Aus) (Teofilo {Ire}), for taking his ground through the stretch was disallowed. He had also had to come from last that day after breaking poorly, but that proved not to be a problem Saturday as he exited barrier two smartly. Saving ground on the rail four lengths off the lead down the backstretch, Tarzino and Newitt made up a few lengths nearing the halfway point to sit two lengths off the speed. Moving off the fence swinging off the turn, Tarzino drew even with the G1 Crown Oaks winner Jameka passing the 300 metre mark. He promptly put the filly away and drew clear for an authoritative win, stamping himself the favourite to add another Derby, the G1 Australian Derby, at The Championships at Royal Randwick Apr. 2.
“He's a really good colt,” Price said. “We tried to win a Caulfield Guineas and got stuck in traffic and then tried to win an Australian Guineas and he bombed the start. We wanted to be a bit closer today. He got out of the gates well and took up a great spot and he was just too good for them. He's just a really good colt. He's got a great set of lungs on him. He's a great horse to train with a great appetite.”
Price admitted he had modest expectations for Tarzino's first start in Sydney, and said he is now looking keenly ahead to the Australian Derby. “I just can't wait to get him to the AJC Derby at Randwick on a big track,” he said.
Tarzino is the sixth produce and first winner for the Zabeel mare Zarzino, who has a yearling full-brother to the dual Group 1 winner. Zarzino's Tavistock foal died last year.
Saturday, Rosehill, Australia
ROSEHILL GUINEAS-G1, A$607,000, ATC, 3-19, 3yo, Open Set Weight, 2000mT, 2:03.56, Good.
1–TARZINO (NZ), 56.5, c, 3, by Tavistock (NZ)
1st Dam: Zarzino (NZ), by Zabeel (NZ)
2nd Dam: Kindness (NZ), by Star Way (GB)
3rd Dam: Vice Reine (NZ), by Amalgam (USA)
(NZ$45,000 Ylg 2014 NZB National Yearling Sale; A$60,000 Ylg
2014 MM National Yearling Sale) O-M G Price, Dr C G Lawler,
Mrs M Jurie, J G Bebedellis, Mrs C Price, G Bebedellis, J J
McNicholas, G Alas, J P Bergin, R A & J E Ferguson Partnership
Syndicate; B-Sir Patrick & Lady Hogan, Waikato, NZ; T-M G
Price; J-C Newitt; A$367,000. Lifetime Record: 9-4-1-2,
A$1,517,050. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*.
2–Montaigne (NZ), 56.5, g, 3, Road to Rock–Stylish Bel, by Bel
Esprit. (NZ$60,000 Ylg 2014 NZB National Yearling Sale) O-A
Cummings Thoroughbreds (A&B Cummings), Rock 'n' Roll, V
Mauric, Mrs W S Trisulo, N Mitchell, M Jones, Ms N Shymko, M
Hayne, M Guildea, L Clinton G Karantzias & Palace Racing (D S;
B-Nearco Stud Limited, Waikato, NZ; T-A J Cummings; J-B
Shinn; A$120,000.
3–Jameka, 54.5, f, 3, Myboycharlie (IRE)–Mine Game, by
General Nediym. (A$130,000 Ylg 2014 WI Melbourne Premier
Yearling Sale) O-C L Maher, Mrs J M Mckenna, D Degenhardt, T
A Cole-Sinclair, M R Fallon, G M Verdoorn, S Priestley & Mrs S
A Cockram, Ms J Nolte, M Mills, & Halo Racing Services Pty Ltd
(Mgr: C B ; B-Gilgai Farm VIC; T-C Maher; J-D Oliver; A$60,000.
Margins: 1.8 len, 2.0 len, 3.9 len. Odds: 2.10, 5.50, 7.00.
Also Ran: Vanbrugh, River Wild, Etymology, Le Romain, Oh So Splendido (NZ), Crosley Hotshot, Hursley (NZ) , Gold Ambition (NZ), Shards, Spanish Stride, I'm Belucci.
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
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