TRAINER JUMPS IN THE SADDLE

That was the case as Natalie Young, co-trainer of Tagaloa jumped in the saddle at Cranbourne this week to get a feel of her mount before his Group 1 challenge on the Australian Guineas at Flemington on Saturday.

Tagaloa registered his first win in nearly 12 months when he powered home to take out the Group 2 CS Hayes stakes nearly two weeks ago and looked closed to his best when beating a strong field.

Young said the win in the CS Hayes was one sign that Tagaloa was on his way to returning to his best form but after riding the 3 year old colt she was even more confident that he would be harder to beat in the Australian Guineas.

“I was super happy with him,” Young, who trains Tagaloa in partnership with Trent Busuttin, said.

“He had a good hit-out. At about the 1200m, he grabbed the bit himself and wanted to go a lot quicker.

“It was good to feel him want to do it because he’s quite a lazy colt that only does what he has to.

“When he wants to grab the bit on his own, you know that he’s feeling well, and that was what he did going into the CS Hayes Stakes.”

Weight will be a factor for the chasing pack on Saturday as Tagaloa carried 59.5kgs in the CS Hayes however the Colt will now take on the Guineas field at set weights and a level playing field.

“He carried 59.5kg in the CS Hayes and it was the most weight a winner has carried in the race for the last 20 years,” Young said.

“He’s now meeting them at set weights and he’s going to have an advantage carrying 2kg less.

“They had every chance to beat him in the CS Hayes and they didn’t. He just needs a good gate.”

Luke Currie retains the ride on Tagaloa and is currently $4 in betting for the Australian Guineas on Saturday. 

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