Trans-Tasman Double - Tagalomu Tough

On debut, Tagalomu (3 g Tagaloa – Sentimental Miss, by Reliable Man) won the $25,000 Kiwi Bus Builders Maiden 1500 metres on 12 December at Tauranga.  Sustaining a big run to win at the trials on 14 November at Avondale, Tagalomu appeared capable of a good first-up effort, and continued a fine run for trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson to record their 12th win in a week.

It also continues a great run for the famous Yulong colours with horses trained by Te Akau's trans-taxman stables, with Golden Pulse an impressive winner at Geelong last week.  Melody Belle's first foal Lyric 'N' Song has also been an outstanding winner from the stable in those same colours.

Drawn barrier nine, Tagalomu settled beyond midfield on the outer, tracked clear with work to do into the straight, and sustained a strong finish for jockey Opie Bosson ONZM to claim victory on the line. 

Winning by half a head, Tagalomu ran 1500 metres in 1:30.2, last 600m on 35.0 (approx.), on Good4 footing, and paid $2.60 & $1.50 on the NZ TAB tote. 

“I had to niggle at him during the run and he started coming up underneath me across the top,” said Bosson, on dismounting.

“It was a good win, good result, and he feels like he’ll stay.”

A nice of type of horse that presented in terrific order, Tagalomu is from the first crop by Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) and Group 3 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) winner Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa (JPN)), out of Group 1 NZ Oaks (2400m) and Listed Wanganui Cup (2040m) winner Sentimental Miss (Reliable Man).

Tagalomu was bred and is owned by Yulong Stud, where Tagaloa stands, having purchased Sentimental Miss for A$470,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale, and Tagalomu is her first foal.

“It was a really good debut win and a lovely ride of Opie’s,” Walker said. 

“He’d had quite a few trials because it took a while for the penny to drop, but the beauty with Yulong is they’re very patient and realise that some horses take longer than others to mature mentally and physically.

“He made up a lot of ground in the straight, is out of an Oaks' winner, and Tagaloa is starting to leave some really nice staying horses in Melbourne.

“So, we’ll continue down the staying path with him and expect he’ll race well over a lot more distance than the 1500 metres he got today.

“We’re very appreciative of the support of Mr Zhang and the team at Yulong Stud, with horses for them at our stables in New Zealand and Australia.”

Tagalomu was strapped by Tamweer Alam. 

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz