Tagaloa
Lord Kanaloa (JPN) x Vasilissa (JPN), by Heart’s Cry (JPN)
2017
16.1hh
The fastest active Blue diamond winner at stud
Tagaloa epitomises the modern Australian stallion – he’s good looking, a Gr.1 Blue Diamond winner at two, trained on at three and is a complete outcross.
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 Station.
Lord Kanaloa topped the first season standings with 32 winners, some 12 clear of his nearest rival, with his debut crop including ten-time Gr.1 winner, dual Horse of the Year and world’s highest rated three-year-old, Almond Eye (JPN). Those results were strong enough to make Lord Kanaloa the second-leading sire of two-year-olds among the general sire population, with only the incomparable Deep Impact (JPN) proving superior.
Making an early impression like his sire, Tagaloa won his only trial before stepping out to place third in the Gr.3 Maribyrnong 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 Gr.3 Blue Diamond Prelude to place fourth before landing his biggest title to date in the Gr.1 Blue Diamond S., beating home Hanseatic, Away Game and Personal in the fastest time by a two-year-old at Caulfield since 2011.
Tagaloa returned at three to win the Gr.3 CS Hayes S. in an exceptional performance, running a faster last 400m than Gr.1 Lightning S. winner Nature Strip, on the same day.
He then went on to place in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas. Other notable results included a second in the Gr.2 Todman S. and fourth in the Gr.1 Golden Slipper. He retired with a record of three wins and more than $1.4 million in stakes.
Tagaloa’s first yearlings entered the Australian market in 2024, selling for up to $240,000, with buyers including Dalziel Bloodstock, Triple Crown Syndications and Australian Bloodstock.
Blue Diamond winners have an enviable record at stud, with Champion first season sires Extreme Choice and Pride Of Dubai both saluting in previous renewals. With the progeny of Tagaloa heading into the stables of Chris Waller, Peter Moody, Matt Laurie plus his own trainers; Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, it could be a sparkling debut season for the young sire’s first-crop two-year-olds.
Performance
Facts
- Well-made and correct $300,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling purchase for Busuttin Racing
- Gr.1 Blue Diamond winner, like Champion first season sires Extreme Choice and Pride Of Dubai, but in a faster time than both
- Returned at three to win the Gr.3 CS Hayes S. with an exceptional performance, running a faster last 400m than Gr.1 Lightning S. winner Nature Strip, on the same day
- By world-class stallion Lord Kanaloa (JPN), out of a mare by Heart’s Cry (JPN), best known in this part of the world for producing the breathtaking Cox Plate winner Lys Gracieux (JPN)
- Covered 336 mares in his first two seasons at stud including Gr.1 winners Miss Sentimental (NZ), Consensus (NZ), Soriano (NZ) and Winning Ways
Race record
Age | Runs | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Earned |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | $1,237,150 |
| 3 | 6 | 1 | – | 3 | $226,300 |
| Totals | 12 | 3 | 1 | 4 | $1,463,450 |
at 2
MRC Blue Diamond S., Gr.1 (1200m)
MVRC Strath Haven Preston 2YO P. (1000m)
2nd ATC Todman S., Gr.2 (1200m)
3rd VRC Maribyrnong P., Gr.3 (1000m)
4th ATC Golden Slipper S., Gr.1 (1200m)
AT 3
VRC CS Hayes S., Gr.3 (1400m)
3rd VRC Australian Guineas, Gr.1 (1600m)
3rd MRC McNeil S., Gr.3 (1200m)
3rd MRC Manfred S., Gr.3 (1200m)
Top Priced Yearlings
Media
Tagaloa
Bred To Win: Tagaloa
Caroline Searcy takes a look at our new arrival and G1 Blue Diamond winner Tagaloa, who hails from champion Japanese bloodlines. He joins newly crowned Champion Australian Sire Written Tycoon, Grunt, Alabama Express, Yulong Prince and Lucky Vega.
Tagaloa winning the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes
Pedigree
Tagaloa’s Leading Progeny
Meisho (22f, Charge Forward, Springsteen). Placed, A$32,600, 2nd MRC Sportsbet 2YO H., Murray Bridge RC Moorundi Classic
Horseback Heaven (22c, Not a Single Doubt, Strategic). Placed, 3rd Murray Bridge RC Moorundi Classic
Itazura (22g, More Than Ready, Zabeel). Placed, 3rd MRC Sportsbet 2YO H.
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