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Blue Diamond winner Tagaloa set to be third stallion on Yulong roster
Last week’s brilliant Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1,1200m) winner Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa) who will continue to race for the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable.
“Tagaloa epitomises what we’re looking for in a modern Australian stallion - he’s good looking, a Group 1 Blue Diamond winner at two and a complete outcross,” said Sam Fairgray, Yulong’s chief operating officer. “We believe he’ll be even better at three.
“Lord Kanaloa is Japan’s most exciting emerging sire and is poised to take over the mantle from Deep Impact. It’s a privilege to stand a son of such a dominant young sire and brilliant sprinter.
“It has been a milestone day for Yulong, with Hungry Heart winning the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes at Randwick, becoming our first Group winner from our first Magic Millions draft and now securing our third stallion for the Yulong roster.”
The first foal out of Japanese mare Vasilissa (Heart's Cry), Tagaloa is exceptional sire Lord Kanaloa (King Kamehameha), whose stud career has started in unprecedented fashion at the Shadai Stallion Stallion.
Lord Kanaloa topped the first season standings with 32 winners, some 12 clear of his nearest rival, with his debut crop including six-time Group 1 winner, Horse of the Year and multiple Group 1 winner Almond Eye.
"Yulong purchasing Tagaloa is a huge tick of approval for the Victorian breeding industry,” he said. “These types normally end up in the Hunter Valley.
“To have a horse like him, a stunning physical and Blue Diamond winner with an international outcross pedigree, stay in Victoria is a massive vote of confidence. Yulong are leading the pack, setting the standard of new development in the Victorian industry.”
Purchased by his trainers for $300,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Arrowfield Stud draft, Tagaloa won his only trial before stepping out to place third in the Maribymong Plate (Gr 3, 1000m) on debut, before breaking his maiden in the Strath Haven Preston 2YO Plate (1000m).
Following a short spell, Tagaloa finished fourth in the Blue Diamond Prelude (c&g) (Gr 3, 1100m) before landing the Blue Diamond in which he beat home Hanseatic (Street Boss), Away Game (Snitzel) and Letzbeglam (Snitzel).
“Tagaloa was an outstanding yearling and always looked like he’d grow into a lovely horse,” said Busuttin.
“We were impressed by his temperament as a yearling, this came through as an early two-year-old and makes him a beautiful horse to deal with now.
“On type he’s a big powerful, striking colt. He’s got a lovely head, athletic physique and a great frame. To be honest, what he’s doing now at two is a bonus and he been done on raw, natural talent - he’s going to make a very exciting three-year-old.”
This announcement is a deal co-ordinated by Ozzie Kheir and Matt Becker, and comes off the back of purchasing a significant share in CF Orr Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) winner Alabama Express (Redoute's Choice) earlier in the week, who will be joining Grunt (O’Reilly) on its roster.
A fee for the colt will be announced at a later date.
