Tarana

Tarana ran a really nice race to finish second in the Listed Trigo Stakes over a mile and a quarter at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Weak in the market beforehand in the face of support for the favourite Stuccodor and the winner Euphrasia, the Aga Khan filly was held up in mid-division in quite a steadily-run race. Indeed, the winner made all, and she was chased by the eventual third, with Stuccodor, who finished fourth, chasing that pair. Tarana was pushed along around the home turn, she showed her inexperience as she ran around a bit, and she dropped back to second last when they straightened up, at least 10 lengths behind the leader. She found her stride a furlong and a half out, however, and she ran on really strongly down the outside through the final furlong to get up for second place.

John Oxx said after her debut last season that she was a lazy filly at home. Put that along with the fact that it was only her second ever run and with her weakness in the market, and it is reasonable to assume that she could come on appreciably for this run.

She stayed on really well here over this steadily-run 10 furlongs, she should be better behind a stronger gallop, and, given that her dam won the Listed Galtres Stakes at York over a mile and a half, there is every chance that she will improve for stepping up in trip again next season. Her dam improved for the application of blinkers too, so headgear is potentially an option for Tarana at some point, if her laziness at home is replicated on the track. For now, however, she is an interesting filly for the future. She could prove to be a good middle-distance filly next season.

26th October 2013