Sky’s the limit for Tarzino’s new star Gypsy Goddess
Vandyke eyeing Group 1 goals for talented unbeaten three-year-old filly
Westbury Stud’s Tarzino (Tavistock) looks to have a potential superstar amongst his progeny after his daughter Gypsy Goddess (3 f ex Invisible Coin by Redoute’s Choice) took her unbeaten record to four in yesterday’s Grand Prix Stakes (Gr 3, 2100m) at Eagle Farm, a triumph which provided the stallion with his first black-type winner.
Stephanie Thornton setted Gypsy Goddess in fifth place on the rails before switching deeper and into clear running approaching the turn. The filly then cruised to the front halfway down the straight before going on to score a comfortable three and three-quarter length victory over Balmaurice (Maurice). Ironic Miss (Press Statement) was a further four and a half lengths away in third.
Unraced as a two-year-old, Gypsy Goddess has landed her four starts this preparation, kicking off the winning streak over 1400 metres at the Sunshine Coast on October 17, before bringing up her second victory over a mile at the same venue on November 7. She then won her third start easily at Doomben on December 4 and Vandyke admitted being confident the three-year-old would retain her unbeaten record during yesterday’s race.
“Gee I was confident turning for home,” Vandyke said. “She (Stephanie Thornton) hadn’t moved on her.
“She’s a stayer, which is what I love. The way Steph got into a rhythm there and when she produced her she had so much left.
“Where does she stand I’m not sure but she’s got Oaks written all over her, doesn’t she?”
“We’ll just keep an eye on her and I won’t let her go far from home.
“We’ll see how she is mentally and physically and decide whether she goes to Sydney for the Australian Oaks or whether we wait to see if we turn up in the Queensland Oaks.”
Bred and raced by Chris Lawler, who also owned Tarzino, Gypsy Goddess is now likely to be aimed at longer trips, with Vandyke eyeing tilts at the Australian Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) and Queensland Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m).
The stallion’s day got off to the perfect start when the Chris Waller-trained Strongbow – a gelding by Tarzino – shed his maiden tag at the third attempt at the Gold Coast, while another of his sons, Te Toki – who had already won on two occasions – finished a good third at Te Rapa.
Westbury’s Russell Warwick was very satisfied with the stallion’s afternoon and said the son of Tavistock (Montjeu) was beginning to showcase his huge potential as a high-class stallion.
“It’s great to get his first Group winner on the board, but he only had the three runners today, and he’s had two winners and a third. So he’s well on his road to going where we want him to,” Warwick told ANZ Bloodstock News.
“We bought him as a staying stallion, and now she’s likely going to be one of the favourites for the Queensland Oaks, so we’ll look forward to the next six months with her.”
Despite a slow first season at stud last year, Tarzino’s progeny had always been touted to improve with age and the breeders’ faith in his abilities in the breeding barn.
“He’s covered about 115-120 again this year. As a stud we’ve supported him very strongly with our mares. It’s important for those young stallions to get numbers on the ground, and we’ve got a very good group of shareholders in him,” said Warwick.
“It’s very fitting that Chris Lawler, who bought the horse as a yearling and raced him, and now he’s bred and raced Gypsy Goddess, so Chris Lawler will take a lot of pride out of today’s effort, for sure.
“I think, keeping things in relativity, he’s by Tavistock out of a Zabeel mare, and neither of those left early comers and they both turned out to be very good stallions. We’d like to think he’s doing what you’d expect him to be doing and hopefully he can fill the void that both Tavistock and Zabeel have left.”
Tarzino will be represented by 20 youngsters at Book 1 of the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Sale in March, 11 of which will be consigned by Westbury and Warwick said he rates the group as the best yearlings the sire has ever produced
“In the three yearling drafts that we’ve had by Tarzino, I reckon this could easily be the best bunch of yearlings we’ve had by him,” Warwick continued.
“Being able to sell them at a time when he’s got his progeny up there and doing the right job always helps.”
Gypsy Goddess is one of three winners out of the unraced Redoute’s Choice (Danehill) mare Invisible Coin, who herself is a sister to 2006 Flight Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Cheeky Choice and also a half-sister to Wizard Princess (Rory’s Jester) the dam of Listed winner Jackofall (Mastercraftsman).
In 2020 Gypsy Goddess’ brother was purchased by Cheltenham Stables for $4,300 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale and last year she produced a colt by Haunui Farm shuttler Belardo (Lope De Vega), who will be offered as Lot 869 at Book 2 of the upcoming New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale in March.
Tarzino has sired four winners from 26 starters and he stood at Westbury Stud for a fee of $12,000 (plus GST) in 2021.
Me Me Lagarde shines at Eagle Farm
The Toby and Trent Edmonds-trained Me Me Lagarde (Star Turn) showed talent in spades when she came from the back to land yesterday’s Gold Edition Plate (Listed, 1200m) at Eagle Farm and in doing so handed the Vinery Stud-based sire Star Turn (Star Witness) his second individual stakes winner.
Ridden by Robbie Fradd, the filly’s chances of landing the Listed contest looked all but dashed coming round the bend very wide with only one rival behind her. However, when Fradd asked the filly for her effort, with a flick of the stick, she showed a potent turn of foot to fly past her rivals, eventually beating Far Too Easy (All Too Hard) by a length and three-quarters. Release The Beans (Spill The Beans) was another nose away in third.
Me Me Lagarde made a winning debut over 1100 metres at Ipswich on May 3, before finishing fourth in the Bill Carter Stakes (Listed, 1200m) on May 22 – her final start as a juvenile.
The daughter of Star Turn has enjoyed the perfect preparation, opening her account as a three-year-old over 1200 metres at Doomben on November 13 and Toby Edmonds said the filly would now be aimed at the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (RL, 1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 15.
“She is a good filly. I think you would go a long way to see (another) run like that today,” he said.
“This track is very firm and has been on speed all day. She came from well back and put them away. I think blinkers have been a big addition. She is a very laid back filly. I said to Gerry (Harvey) and Luke (McDonald, racing manager) that we are getting towards the pointy end, getting to Magic Millions time, so it’s time to put them on.
“I needed to run her at Doomben a couple of weeks ago, and she had a foot abscess, which we had to get right.
“I am nervous racing here all the time. It’s a beautiful big track and everything gets its chance, but I wish it was the same surface everywhere.
Me Me Lagarde (3 f Star Turn – Roedean by Flying Spur) failed to make her $75,000 reserve at the 2020 edition of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and was retained to race by her breeder Gerry Harvey.
The three-year-old filly is one of six winners out of Roedean (Flying Spur), who finished first past the post in the 2003 Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m), but was subsequently disqualified after returning a positive sample for a banned substance.
In winning yesterday’s Listed contest, Me Me Lagarde became the first stakes winner out of Roedean. She is also a half-sister to Group 3-placed Hoylonny (Lonhro).
Further back this is the same family as the stakes winner Balf’s Choice (Written Tycoon).
In 2020 Roedean produced a colt by Darley-based sire Astern (Medaglia D’Oro), before foaling a colt by Star Turn’s barnmate All Too Hard (Casino Prince). She has most recently been covered by Star Turn once again.
Me Me Lagarde joins Miss Hipstar as the Star Turn’s other stakes winner. He stood for a fee of $16,500 (inc GST) in 2021. The Vinery Stud-based sire has 12 lots catalogued at the upcoming Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, which gets underway on January 11.