Tajalla seeking to take next step up the sprinting ladder

PA Sport Reporters
June 16, 2023 3:19 pm

Promising Varian colt part of Scurry Stakes line-up.

Tajalla will put his sprinting credentials to the test as Roger Varian seeks back-to-back victories in Sandown’s Molson Coors Scurry Stakes.

The speedy son of Kessaar burst on to the scene at Newmarket last spring, but injury soon struck meaning he was ruled out of the rest of the season and was not seen again until making a successful reappearance at Hamilton last month.

Having confirmed his powerful engine remains intact during that venture north of the border, the Carlburg Stables handler has now decided to try the three-year-old in Listed company at the Esher track and in a race he claimed 12 months ago with the progressive Mitbaahy.

Another smart one for @Raydawson101 and @varianstable ✌️
Tajalla, not seen since winning @NewmarketRace in April and entered in the Commonwealth Cup, fends off Silent Words in the @DarleyStallions @BritishEBF Novice Stakes @HamiltonParkRC 👀 pic.twitter.com/2lY4mZJC7X
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 7, 2023

“It’s a nice race, it’s competitive and we will learn a bit more about him tomorrow because he has only run in two novices,” said Varian.

“He’s a promising young sprinter, I think the stiff five furlongs at Sandown should suit him and we’ll see how we go.

“He’s only really had one setback which was quite a major setback and came a few weeks after his debut at Newmarket. It meant he had to miss he rest of last season, but he’s come out this year and won nicely at Hamilton and I think that form is solid with the second well regarded.

“We never planned to take him to Ascot and this looked a nice race so we have hung on. It’s a nice race for those horses who don’t quite hit that Ascot window. I don’t know if he will win or not but we will find out more about him.”

Tajalla winning on debut at Newmarket (Tim Goode/PA)

Richard Fahey’s Great State claimed the Listed Westow Stakes at York last month and attempts to extend a three-race winning run, while also looking to continue a consistent run of form is George Boughey’s Perdika.

The filly claimed her second Chantilly Listed race of the season in the Prix Marchand d’Or in between her two triumphs in France has gone close in three other Listed and Group events.

“She likes soft ground, but she won on quicker ground on French Derby day on her latest start so she is pretty versatile,” said Boughey.

“She has come out of her last race in super shape. She doesn’t do much at home and we’ve never opened her up here. We like to save her for the track.

A French Derby day winner for @gbougheyracing!
Perdika lands the Listed Prix Marchand d’Or at @fgchantilly under Bauyrzhan Murzabayev… pic.twitter.com/oYsFiMGJaf
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 4, 2023

“It is a credit to her and the guys in the team here that look after her as she is trained like a real sprinter.

“I’ve had very few horses like her and she is coming into the Oscula category now. My long-term plan is to run her in the Prix de l’Abbaye back at Longchamp in the autumn.”

Karl Burke’s Yahsat returns from 344 days off the track and was last seen chasing home The Platinum Queen on the Knavesmire, with Clive Cox’s Katey Kontent also on the comeback trail following over 300 days on the sidelines.

The daughter of Havana Grey, who shaped like a useful prospect at two, missed an intended engagement at York last month but is now reported to be back in tip-top condition.

“She had a little hold up ahead of going to York with a pulled muscle which was one of those things but I’m pleased to say we are back on track now,” said Cox.

“She is a filly that we hold in good regard and we hope she shows the promise she did early in her career.

“She has got bags of speed and showed a lot of class early on last year, but everything happened quite quickly for her.

“She has matured and developed well over the winter and we are looking forward to seeing her back in action. We feel she is in that Listed bracket hence her entry here.”