Yulong Purchase Blue Diamond winner Tagaloa

Media Release - Saturday February 29

Yulong have added another Group 1 winner to their burgeoning stallion roster this week, purchasing G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa {JPN}) who will continue to race for the Busuttin Racing stable.

Blue Diamond winner Tagaloa will stand at Yulong  at the end of his racing career - image Grant CourtneyTagaloa epitomises what were looking for in a modern Australian stallion - hes good looking, a Group 1 Blue Diamond winner at two and a complete outcross,” said Sam Fairgray, Yulongs Chief Operating Officer. We believe hell be even better at three.”

Lord Kanaloa is Japans most exciting emerging sire and is poised to take over the mantle from Deep Impact. Its a privilege to stand a son of such a dominant young sire and brilliant sprinter.

It has been a milestone day for Yulong, with Hungry Heart winning the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes at Randwick, becoming our first Group winner from our first Magic Millions draft and now securing our third stallion for the Yulong roster.”

The first foal from winning Japanese mare Vasilissa (JPN) (Heart's Cry {JPN}), Tagaloa is by Japanese Horse of the Year, brilliant sprinter and exceptional sire Lord Kanaloa (JPN), whose stud career has started in unprecedented fashion at the Shadai Stallion Stallion.

Lord Kanaloa topped the first season standings with 32 winners, some 12 clear of his nearest rival, with his debut crop including six-time Group 1 winner, Horse of the Year and world’s highest rated 3-year-old, Almond Eye. Those results were strong enough to make Lord Kanaloa the second-leading sire of 2-year-olds among the general sire population, with only the incomparable Deep Impact proving superior.

Trent Busuttin of Busuttin Racing was effusive in his endorsement on keeping a colt of this quality in the local breeding population.

Yulong purchasing Tagaloa is a huge tick of approval for the Victorian breeding industry,” he said. These types normally end up in the Hunter Valley.”

To have a horse like him, a stunning physical and Blue Diamond winner with an international outcross pedigree, stay in Victoria is a massive vote of confidence. Yulong are leading the pack, setting the standard of new development in the Victorian industry.”

Making an early impression like his sire, Tagaloa won his only trial before stepping out to place third in the Group 3 Maribymong Plate on debut. He then backed up with a win in the Strath Haven Preston 2YO Plate.

Following a short spell, Tagaloa started fresh up in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude to place fourth before landing his biggest title to date in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes, beating home Hanseatic, Away Game and Letzbeglam.

Arrowfield Stud offered Tagaloa as a yearling at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale with Busuttin Racing securing the standout colt for $300,000. Trent Busuttin had seen Lord Kanaloa race in Hong Kong and was drawn to his brilliant speed, which naturally attracted him to his yearlings.

Tagaloa was an outstanding yearling and always looked like hed grow into a lovely horse,” said Busuttin.

We were impressed by his temperament as a yearling, this came through as an early 2-year-old and makes him a beautiful horse to deal with now.

On type hes a big powerful, striking colt. Hes got a lovely head, athletic physique and a great frame. To be honest, what hes doing now at two is a bonus and he been done on raw, natural talent - hes going to make a very exciting 3-year-old.”

The announcement of Tagaloa, in a deal co-ordinated by Ozzie Kheir and Matt Becker, comes off the back of purchasing a significant share in Group 1 CF Orr Stakes winner Alabama Express (Redoute's Choice) earlier in the week, who will be joining Grunt (NZ) (OReilly {NZ}) on its roster.

News from Yulong

Advertisment
More Reading...
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Sires With Winners - Monday November 4
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
Antrim Coast to Fly Flag for The Oaks Stud
The well-renowned colours of The Oaks Stud will feature across two feature Trans-Tasman meetings this week, kicking off with Antrim Coast lining up in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.