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Tavi Mac wins Matamata Cup.

Late Cambridge Stud-based stallion Tavistock (Montjeu) sired his 22nd stakes winner on Saturday as his son Tavi Mac (5 g ex Bellaroof by Maroof) took out the Matamata Cup (Listed, 1400m). 

Trained by Allan Sharrock, the five-year-old gelding came into the race off the back of a sixth place finish in the Tarzino Trophy (Gr 1, 1400m) at Hastings last month and he clearly appreciated the step back in class, scooting away to beat Hay Tiger (Tiger Prawn) by three and a quarter lengths, while Burgundy Belle (Burgundy) was a further neck away in third. 

"I'm just thrilled with that as it isn't easy to carry top weight and do it as well as he did," Sharrock said.

"He put them to bed pretty easily, the little beauty.

"It was a good effort for a little horse but Opie [Bosson] rode him beautifully.

"When you get those top riders on it really shows. Opie hasn't done a lot of riding for me but when he has, he hasn't been beaten too many times."

Sharrock doesn't believe there is a lot left for Tavi Mac in this campaign and will most likely give him one or two more starts before sending him out for a decent summer spell.

"There won't be a lot more for him, maybe just a weight-for-age race over 1400 metres at Awapuni just before Christmas," he said.

"I might give him an open sprint with a claimer on board before that to keep him up to the mark but I will curtail it sooner rather than later as he's been up a long time.

"He's only had the thirteen starts for eight wins now and I think next year he could be a genuine Group 1 horse as he's still learning."

The geling is one of three winners and first stakes winner out of the five time-winning mare Bellaroof (Maroof) and further back this is the same family as Highden Belle (Pevero).  

Tavistock's progeny is headed by five Group 1 winners, including now Westbury Stud-based sire Tarzino, whose first runners hit the track this season. Tavistock died last year.