Sherry lands maiden Group 1 as Tashi steals the show in Tatt’s Tiara
The final Group 1 of the 2024-25 season went the way of Tashi (Sebring) as the Peter Snowden-trained mare swept to victory in Saturday’s Tattersall’s Tiara (Gr 1, 1400m) at Eagle Farm.
The win provided jockey Tommy Sherry with his first Group 1, while it was also a first elite-level victory for the five-year-old daughter of Sebring (More Than Ready). The mare was rewarded for her ultra consistent displays this season – having strung together consecutive second-placed efforts in stakes company on her previous three starts.
Sent off a $7.50 chance for Saturday’s first crack at Group 1 level, Tashi proved a worthy winner as she produced a strong run down the outside of her 16 rivals to down Abounding (Rich Enuff) by 1.9 lengths.
Olentia (Zoustar) finished a further half-length back in third place.
Snowden said: “She’s been tremendous all prep, so nobody could begrudge her the win. She kept putting her hand up every start, so I’m really proud of her.
“There were no half measures today, she won dominantly. She kept getting beaten short half heads, it was a tremendous run last week in the Dane Ripper, I think this is her 11th run this campaign so huge credit to her.
“Tom [Sherry] rode her an absolute peach today, I think it’s his first Group 1 so I’m so pleased for him and the mare.”
Sherry was delighted to gain the breakthrough victory aboard the mare, whom he had ridden for her last-start second in the Dane Ripper Stakes (Gr 2, 1300m) a fortnight earlier.
“It’s been a long time coming for me,” Sherry said. “The stars aligned today, and I can’t thank Peter [Snowden] and his team enough.
“It’s been a long road and it’s been a tough year, but moments like this make it all worthwhile. When I came up outside Abounding, I got the jitters and went full bore.
“She’s [Tashi] had an unbelievable prep. She’s kept protruding, even though she hasn’t won she’s been super consistent.
“I’m so proud of this mare and it feels like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. Things like this don’t happen to people like me, so I’m delighted.”
Commenting on his maiden Group 1 success, Sherry added: “I’ve worked really hard to get here. Winning a Group 1 for a lad from Ireland is a very big deal for me.
“I came here with 80 rides under my belt and rode 100 winners in my first season, thanks to Mark Newnham. He was like a father figure to me and taught me so much. From there, it was a huge step from an apprentice to a senior rider.
“It took a lot of understanding and a lot of understanding to make the transition. I’m lucky I’ve got a beautiful fiancee and a great family behind me.”
Bred and raced by Corumbene Stud, Tashi is one of two winners from three foals to race out of the winning Street Cry (Machiavellian) mare Ghenwaa, who was bought by Corumbene Stud for $300,000 at the 2018 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale.
Ghenwaa herself is a half-sister to stakes winners Taraayef (Lonhro) and Haybah (More Than Ready) and comes from the family of dual Derby winner turned sire Rebel Raider (Reset).
With Saturday’s victory, Tashi (5 m Sebring – Ghenwaa by Street Cry) was becoming the 83rd individual stakes winner and ninth Group 1 winner for Sebring – who died in 2019.