First Aussie win for Aga Khan Bred Fastnet Blueblood

Blue blood Irish bred gelding Tazaral (5g Fastnet Rock x Tarana, by Cape Cross) opened his account in Australia when winning at Randwick on Saturday for Peter and Paul Snowden.

Bred by the Aga Khan and initially trained in Ireland by Dermot Weld, Tazaral had seven starts in his homeland for a maiden win and a fourth in a Listed race before being sold privately and sent to Australia to join the Peter and Paul Snowden stable.

A half-brother to two champions in Tarnawa and Tahiyra, he had three runs earlier this year for one third placing, but has come back a better horse after a good spell.

Tazaral produced a powerful sustained run for Tom Sherry, charging to the line to win the Benchmark 78 event over 1600m by more than a length running away.

"We've learned a bit about him and he about what we do here as well," Peter Snowden said.

"Last time here he was agitated and on the chewy all the time, but he's settled really well this prep.

"He's been great in his work and he executed very well here today.

"Gee I liked that turn of foot that he had and he sustained a good gallop for a long while so it was very pleasing to see."

Tazaral is one of three winners from three foals to race from stakes-winning Cape Cross mare Tarana and her other two winners are triple Group I winner and 2021 Champion European Older Mare Tarnawa and 2022 Champion European 2YO Filly Tahiyra, who has come out and won the Group I Irish 1000 Guineas and Royal Ascot Coronation Stakes this year.

"It's a good family. While I was at Royal Ascot, his sister won the three-year-old race there, a Group One," Snowden said.

"His older sister is a Group One winner too, so I feel a bit left out here.

"But he might be on his way now. I think he is progressive. He's only lightly raced, that was his eleventh start, so I think there is more upside."