Tannhauser (AUS)
2 c Dundeel – Luqyaa by Exceed And Excel
O: Newgate Bloodstock, China Horse Club Racing Pty Ltd, Trilogy, Newgate S F, Horse Ventures, Go Bloodstock Australia, Starlight Racing, Grant Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Carpe Diem, Aston Bloodstock, Nick Vass Bloodstock, G1G Colts & Breeding Pty Ltd, Aristia Park Bloodstock Pty Ltd
B: Highclere Stud Australia
T: Chris Waller
S: 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale V: Milburn Creek Stud P: China Horse Club/Newgate Bloodstock/Trilogy Racing, $425,000
W: Wilson Asset Management Handicap, 1400m, May 27, Randwick
Dundeel (High Chaparral) colt Tannhauser rocketed to the top of betting markets for the JJ Atkins Plate (Gr 1, 1600m) following a victory at Randwick on Saturday, a performance which earned the Maiden of the Week accolade.
Making his fourth career start for trainer Chris Waller and the Newgate Farm and China Horse Club-led colts syndicate, Tannhauser produced a rousing display as a $12 chance, to win the 1400-metre two-year-old handicap, coming from last of the ten-runner field at the turn for home, to soar over the top of his rivals and score by a neck at the line.
Tannhauser will now be afforded the chance at emulating another colt by Dundeel that sports the same red and yellow-starred silks, after Militarize claimed both the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) and ATC Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) during the spring.
Tannhauser was scratched from a clash with Militarize in the Champagne Stakes owing to the wet ground, a decision that the training team felt was vindicated.
“We knew he wouldn’t enjoy the heavy track in the Champagne and the connections already had the favourite, Militarize, so we decided to ease back with Tannhauser and go to Brisbane,” Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said.
“The plan is coming to fruition now. With the blinkers on, he has gone to a new level today. We felt he was way over the odds today – and he has justified that thought.
Arrowfield Stud’s Dundeel is enjoying a prosperous season with his two-year-olds, with Tannhauser his 12th juvenile scorer from 20 runners this campaign; a group which also includes the stakes-placed pair Townsend and Miracle Of Love.
Tannhauser was ridden by Jay Ford at Randwick and the jockey believes the colt will only improve heading into the JJ Atkins, for which he is the $5 favourite ahead of Encryption (Lonhro) colt Cifrado and Make A Call (Extreme Choice), who are both $6.50 chances.
“Being by Dundeel he’ll appreciate further, and I think stepping up in grade and going to where he’s going, the JJ Atkins, is going to get the best out of him,” Ford said.
“Racing a little bit better opposition is going to force him to focus a bit more and I think he’s on an upward trend.”
Bred by Highclere Stud, the breeders of dual Group 1 winner Coolangatta (Written Tycoon), Tannhauser was a $425,000 purchase from the Milburn Creek draft at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is the second foal and second winner out of the stakes-placed Exceed And Excel (Danehill) mare Luqyaa, who is in turn a daughter of Group 3 winner Charm View (Royal Academy).