Auckland Cup on the radar for Tajanis
Go Racing’s European import Tajanis may get another stamp in his passport following his win in the Listed ATC Australia Day Cup (2400m) at Warwick Farm on Monday.
Go Racing’s General Manager Matt Allnutt confirmed that they are considering sending him to New Zealand, where they are based, for the Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie on Champions Day (March 8).
“We are potentially going to target the Auckland Cup with him,” he said. “It looks a nice race to bring him out here to have a crack at.”
Sent out the $2.40 favourite, Tajanis jumped from barrier three with Zac Lloyd in the saddle. He settled in mid-field and travelled nicely throughout and came wide at the 300m to storm home and win strongly by three-quarters-of-a-length.
The Chris Waller-trained five-year-old has now won his last two races in succession and appears to be settling into life down under, having begun his career in the United Kingdom.
“He’s taken a while to adapt to Australian racing, but he’s really got it now, Allnutt said.
“He’s won two in a row now and he’s just getting better with more racing. His confidence is up and even though it was a narrow margin that he won by it was a very comfortable win, he was just so strong to and through the line.
“He’s certainly a horse that’s getting better with racing and he will just keep getting better with time and distance.”
By Epsom Derby winner Australia, Tajanis was purchased by Go Racing for 40,000 guineas at the 2023 Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale, as a one-win horse.
He has now won four and placed in five of his 16 starts and Monday’s win came at his first start in black-type company.