Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray have Group 1 aims for their 2-year-old filly Tajana (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) who fought hard to beat the favourite Hostility (NZ) (I Am Invincible) by 0.2L at Matamata on Wednesday.
The pair accelerated away from the field from the 150-metre mark to beat the remainders by over 4L in a neck and neck battle. Hostility was on debut and was the sale topper at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale in 2024 at NZ$1.65 million, while Tajana is a homebred for The Oaks Stud.
Tajana ran second on debut in the G3 Colin Jillings 2YO Classic behind unbeaten Group 1 winner Return To Conquer (Snitzel) and then was fourth at her second start. “The way she is going it (G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce) is very tempting,” Ritchie told Loveracing.nz.
“She has got a nom for it and if she does go to that, that will be it from there (this season). Even if she can run a place in a Group 1 that would be fantastic. She has got that Group placing at Ellerslie, so a little bit more would be nice.
“I really see her as a 1000 Guineas filly next season. She has got a magnificent nature, she is a real sweetheart to deal with and I think there is a lot more ahead of her than a maiden here.”
By now retired sire Darci Brahma (NZ), Tajana is the third foal of winning mare Sleek Secret (NZ) (Sakhee’s Secret {GB}). Tajana’s 3-year-old full sister Cypher (NZ) is a winner and placed twice from three starts. Sleek Secret has a yearling full sister to Tajana and a filly foal by Satono Aladdin (Jpn). Tajana’s third dam produced G2 Eight Carat Classic winner Spin ‘n Grin (NZ) (Spinning World {USA}).
“She was a normal Darci Brahma foal, a nice filly that keeps improving. Tajana is not a natural 2-year-old but she has talent and that helps. We’ll make a decision on the Sires’ in a few days if she bounces well out of this,” The Oaks Stud’s Rick Williams told TTR AusNZ.
“I’ve won the 1000 Guineas three times, and I wouldn’t mind winning it again before I retire. Physically, Tajana is a typical Darci, maybe a bit taller. Sleek Secret was a filly who should’ve won at Listed level but little things went wrong, but she was a decent horse herself.” She won five of her 35 starts and was fourth in the Listed Inglewood Stakes.
“Cypher was very good but got galloped on and cut a tendon, so she’s now retired. We’ve just broken in the yearling, and I love her. They are three nice fillies and if I had to pick the best one, it’s the yearling.”
-Renee Geelan, The Thoroughbred Report
