Tagaloa
Lord Kanaloa (JPN) x Vasilissa (JPN), by Heart’s Cry (JPN)
2017
16.1hh
FEE: $22,000
GST inclusive
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. His second crop yearlings received rave reviews, outselling his first and selling for up to thirteen-times their conception fee in 2025.
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. Tagaloa duly delivered, making an immediate impact with Stakes winner Spicy Lu, who put together three consecutive wins culminating in the Listed Fernhill Mile. He has also had three further Stakes performers in Salty Pearl, Misho and Alottago, who look to have exciting futures as they progress towards their three-year-old season.
With the progeny of Tagaloa in the stables of Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, Chris Waller, Peter Moody & Catherine Coleman, Matt Laurie plus his own trainers; Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young, it could be a sparkling season for the young sire’s first three-year-olds.
Performance
Facts
- 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).
- Well-made and correct $300,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling purchase for Busuttin Young 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 Stakes with an exceptional performance, running a faster last 400m than Gr.1 Lightning Stakes winner Nature Strip, on the same day.
- Covered 336 mares in his first two seasons at stud including Gr.1 winners Miss Sentimental (NZ), Consensus (NZ), Soriano (NZ) and Winning Ways.
- First-crop two-year-olds include Stakes winner Spicy Lu and Stakes performers Salty Pearl, Meisho, Alottago.
Race record
Age |
Runs |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Progeny
Top Priced Yearlings
Pedigree
Tagaloa’s Leading Progeny
SPICY LU (22f, Charge Forward, Machiavellian). 3 wins from 1200m to 1600m, A$149,700, 1st ATC Fernhill H., L
Alottago (22g, Redoute’s Choice, Umatilla). Placed, A$16,636, 3rd CJC Welcome S., L, CJC Champagne S., L
Salty Pearl (22f, Sebring, Statue of Liberty). Winner at 1200m, A$171,250, 1st MRC Sportsbet 2YO H., 2nd Bendigo JC VOBIS Gold Rush, 3rd SAJC David Coles AM S., Gr.3
Meisho (22f, Charge Forward, Springsteen). Placed, A$60,100, 2nd SAJC Without Fear S., L, MRC Sportsbet 2YO H., Murray Bridge RC Moorundi Classic
Teine Aulelei (22f, Shamardal, Darshaan). Winner at 1000m, A$43,025
Heiwana Tamashi (22c, Lonhro, Danehill). Placed, A$12,285
Mysterious Master (22c, Magic Albert, Indian Ridge). Placed
Our Chief (22g, Redoute’s Choice, Encosta de Lago). Placed
Aggressive (22g, Testa Rossa, Rory’s Jester). Placed
Australasia (22f, Redoute’s Choice, Dehere). Placed, 3rd Ipswich TC Great Northern Maiden 2YO P.
Horseback Heaven (22g, Not a Single Doubt, Strategic). Placed, 3rd Murray Bridge RC Moorundi Classic
Tambeloa (22c, Rock of Gibraltar, Pleasant Tap). Placed
Itazura (22g, More Than Ready, Zabeel). Placed, 3rd MRC Sportsbet 2YO H.
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