Monday 12 September 2022
On a productive day at The Curragh for the Aga Khan silks on Irish Champions weekend, TAHIYRA stole the show with a scintillating performance in the Gr.1 Moyglare Stakes on just her second racecourse start. Always travelling smoothly, she won by two-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of the much more experienced favourite Mediate.
TAHIYRA is a daughter of SIYOUNI, and is the third Group 1 winning two-year-old for her sire. She is bred on the same cross as champion Laurens, being out of a Cape Cross mare, and is a half-sister to the brilliant Tarnawa, winner of three top-level races in 2020.
Trainer Dermot Weld said: “She did it very well and she's beaten a very high-class, multiple Group-winning filly. It was an excellent renewal of the race. I was afraid it might just come a little soon in her career and I've always said what a beautiful filly she would be next spring. That's it for this year. There is tremendous stamina in the pedigree, brilliance and speed. We'll review it early next spring, but obviously one of the Classic trials possibly and then one of the Guineas, Irish, English or French, but that's a long way down the line.”
Princess Zahra Aga Khan, who was on hand to witness the race, added: “For all of us on the breeding team to see this family produce another fantastic filly is a really great thing. To watch her do that, sort of all by herself, is just brilliant. Dermot had given him some very clear instructions, which Chris [Hayes, jockey] followed very well. It's been 100 years this year since my great grandfather bought the first foundation mares at Newmarket.”
The impressive victory saw TAHIYRA swept to the head of the market for next year’s 1000 Guineas.
Soon afterwards, in the Gr.1 National Stakes, consistent colt SHARTASH finished third. The son of Invincible Spirit has run five times as a juvenile, winning two races including the Gr.2 Railway Stakes ahead of subsequent Group 1 winner Blackbeard, and placing on the other three occasions, twice at Group 1 level.
In the final race on the card, a €150,000 Premier Handicap, three-year-old KERKIYRA picked up her second victory of the season. The SIYOUNI filly has finished in the money on all of her eight starts to date.
On Saturday at Leopardstown meanwhile, Classic winner VADENI was a close third in the Gr.1 Irish Champion Stakes despite suffering an interrupted run.
Trainer Jean-Claude Rouget commented: “He was having to do a slalom, like in skiing, so it was quite a good run. He was in front of Mishriff like he was last time and we can't win every race. I think he was a bit unlucky, but I think the result is correct with a very strong pace in front. I don’t know what the plan is, but not the Arc. Maybe he goes to Ascot [for the Champion Stakes on 15th October] if the ground is better.”
Elsewhere on Saturday, unbeaten two-year-old RAJAPOUR confirmed himself as a name to follow when winning his second race, a one-mile Class 2 contest at Chantilly, by three lengths. The Almanzor colt is out of Group 2 winning juvenile Raydara and is a half-brother to Group-placed Ridenza.
