Tarnawa Gives Legendary Weld a Maiden Breeders’ Cup Win in the Turf

[Wandering Eyes]

Legendary Irish trainer Dermot Weld has accomplished most everything there is to accomplish in this business, including a GI Belmont S. with Go and Go (Ire) and a G1 Melbourne Cup with Vintage Crop (Ire). In 16 previous tries at the Breeders’ Cup and in one of the bigger anomalies in the event’s history, Weld had failed to unsaddle a winner, but that changed Saturday when the Aga Khan’s TARNAWA (IRE) (f, 4, Shamardal–Tarana {Ire}, by Cape Cross {Ire}) came with a stinging turn of foot beneath substitute rider Colin Keane and raced away to a convincing victory in the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland. Favored Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) raced prominently and fought on gamely for second ahead of the North American-based Channel Maker (English Channel), who led them a long way before succumbing in the final 50 yards. Tarnawa, last-out winner of the G1 Prix de l’Opera over easy ground at ParisLongchamp in early October, dropped out to near the tail of the field as Channel Maker made the running, as expected, from 2019 runner-up United (Giant’s Causeway). Ridden patiently by Keane as they passed halfway in a pedestrian 1:15.99, Tarnawa still had only one beaten as the field hit the three-eighths marker. Leaving nothing to chance and knowing what was under him, Keane allowed his mount to circle seven or eight wide off the final turn and she stormed down the center of the course to score handily. Magical stayed on at one pace for second. Tarnawa is also the first Breeders’ Cup winner for Shamardal, who passed away this past April at the age of 18. It was a fourth Turf win for a horse in the colors of His Highness the Aga Khan, who won the inaugural running in 1984 with Lashkari (Ire), with Kalanisi (Ire) in 2000 and was part-owner with Godolphin of 1999 winner Daylami (Ire). Lifetime Record: 14-8-2-2. O-HH the Aga Khan; B-His Highness The Aga Khan’s Studs SC; T-Dermot Weld.

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