The Taj Mahal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) became the fifth stakes winner for the excellent producer You'resothrilling (Storm Cat) when winning Saturday's G2 Zipping Classic for owner Lloyd Williams and trainer Robert Hickmott at Sandown Park in Australia. The 3-year-old had previously been trained by Aidan O'Brien when he raced in Ireland as Taj Mahal and he made his first two starts Down Under for O'Brien: he beat one home in the G1 Ladbrokes S. on Oct. 14 and improved to be fourth in the G1 Emirates S. on Nov. 11 before transferring to Hickmott. Breathing down the neck of the longshot leader Dandy Gent (Aus) (Savoire Vivre {GB}) down the backstretch, the 5-1 shot The Taj Mahal took over the lead prematurely passing the 800 but never looked in danger, eventually hitting the line 3 1/2 lengths to the better of his stablemate, the 2016 G1 Melbourne Cup winner Almandin (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), under a handride.
“We were keen to run him today just to learn a bit more about him, it's his first go at the mile-and-a-half and he's done a good job,” Williams told Racing.com. “He's a colt with probably the best pedigree in the world so we've probably got to try to win some of these good mile-and-a-quarter races. I would've thought Australian Cups and Ranvets would be his go and maybe we'll stretch him out to The BMW.”
You'resothrilling's first foal was the 2014 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Marvellous (Ire), and while that would have been the crowning point for many a mare, she would outdo herself the following year when producing the dual Guineas winner Gleneagles (Ire). The G3 Park S. winner Coolmore (Ire) followed, then The Taj Mahal, and this year's representative is the G1 Moyglare Stud S. and G1 Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Happily (Ire). All of You'resothrilling's foals are by Galileo (Ire), including a colt born this year.
The Zipping quinella was also the swangsong for the stable for Hickmott, who now goes out on his own after eight years as private trainer. Liam Howley will take over.
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