Tarpaulin impresses at Warwick Farm
Godolphin will let the dust settle before determining where Tarpaulin (Harry Angel) fits into their spring plans following the well-related colt’s classy maiden win at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
A half-brother to Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (Gr 2, 1200m) winner Aft Cabin (Astern) PJ Bell Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) winner Multaja (Medaglia d’Oro), and Lonhro Plate (Listed, 1100m) scorer) Veranillo (Medaglia D’Oro), the Godolphin-bred Tarpaulin had shown promise at his two previous starts, including a first-up second to Mawjood (Tassort) at the same venue last month.
Backed in to start a $1.80 favourite in Wednesday’s handicap over 1200 metres, Tarpaulin camped on the back of the leaders under Zac Lloyd and sprinted quickly in the straight to comfortably defeat his stable companion Diamond Firetail (Epaulette) by 2.4 lengths.
Godolphin representative Darren Beadman said the youngster stripped fitter for his first-up effort and showed the benefit of race experience to score.
“He turned up today [Wednesday] and looked a little bit fitter and knew what it was all about,” Beadman said.
“He put himself in the right spot and won with a lot of authority. He’s a promising colt.”
Beadman said Godolphin would see how Tarpaulin came through the run before setting any concrete plans but felt the rising three-year-old might be best placed given a freshen-up and targeted towards the backend of the spring.
“We’ll let the horse decide where we go with him,” he said. “He’s probably not one to be having three or four runs going into the spring.
“We’ve got a lot of nice colts and fillies coming through, so it’s always good to have as many strings in your bow as you can at the right time. It’s a long spring.”
Tarpaulin is the sixth winner out of the three-time winning Lonhro (Octagonal) mare Shelters, herself a sister to Group 1 winner Benfica. Shelters has a yearling colt by Brazen Beau (I Am Invincible) named Cavern, a weanling colt by Astern, and was again covered by Astern.
Runner-up Diamond Firetail is a half-sister to 2022 Adrian Knox Stakes (Gr 3, 2000m) winner Honeycreeper (Teofilo) and while she might not have the brilliance of Tarpaulin, Beadman expects her to improve as her distances are increased.
“This horse [Tarpaulin] is a different gravy to her, but in saying that she will hold her head pretty high as she gets through her preparation,” Beadman said.