Equinties - Kayf Tara

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Bangor has been abandoned…BUT WHO GIVES AF, CHELTENHAM IS ON BITCHES.

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Headline Roundup

RIP KAYF TARA 

The 11-time British Champion National Hunt sire, KAYF TARA, sadly passed away yesterday at the age of 28. 

Overbury Stud announced yesterday that the legend both on and off the track had peacefully passed away in his field, two years after his retirement from stallion duties due to declining fertility. 

Flat pedigree’s always have and always will be more fashionable than jumps, it’s just the way it is… it’s all about the money. GALILIEO, SEA THE STARS and maybe now even FRANKEL are the horses that will spring to most people’s mind which, I suppose is the reason we’re dedicating such a lengthy bit of this newsletter to a horse who was (or is, even) the beating heart of breeding in the recent National Hunt game. We need to celebrate the achievements of this jumps daddy and his world-class progeny. 

Owned by Godolphin in his racing days, the son of SADLER’S WELLS ran 15 times on the Flat, winning on 10 of those occasions – trained by Saeed bin Suroor, KAYF TARA won four Group 1 races and he had success in the same number of Group 2 contests, including the Ascot Gold Cup twice and the Irish St Leger twice. 

At the top of his progeny was the brilliant THISTLECRACK, a five-time Grade 1 successor – he went on a nine-race unbeaten streak which began at the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle in November 2015, included the Grade 1 World Hurdle and Grade 1 King George Chase, and was finished by MANY CLOUDS in the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham 15 months later, a race that was MANY CLOUDS’ final outing on the racecourse as he sadly passed away shortly after his win. 

One of the most recent success stories for KAYF TARA has been the rise of EDWARDSTONE, a racehorse who is considered a ‘people’s horse’ thanks to his rise from handicap hurdling to Tingle Creek fame in such a short space of time – this lad was beaten off a mark of 146 in the Betfair Hurdle in February 2021, yet just 18 months later he would have two Grade 1 races under his belt and is now rated 170 over fences. 

KAYF TARA produced 11 horses rated over 160 at their peak and a further 17 rated between 150-159, but he has only produced one Queen Mother Champion Chase winner (to date) and that was SPECIAL TIARA. 

The Henry de Bromhead-trained gelding ran in three Champion Chases to no avail between 2014 and 2016, but the fourth time was the charm in 2017 as he did enough to hold on from the fast-approaching FOX NORTON.  

A true legend of the game and one who will be sadly missed. Rest easy, KAYF TARA. 

More: 

CONCERTISTA sells for €200,000 

Former Cheltenham Festival winner and ex-Willie Mullins mare CONCERTISTA went through the ring for €220,000 at the Goffs December Sale yesterday as high-class mares were picked up throughout the day. 

Once a Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle winner at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival, the daughter of Nathaniel was picked up for six figures by Jayne McGivern, owner of Dash Grange Stud, the same stud that secured QUEEN OF THE STAGE, CONSTITUTION HILL’s dam, for €340,000 in a Goffs Online sale back in May. 

Elsewhere at the sale, ROYAL KAHALA, winner of the Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle, was sold back to her breeder, Robert McCarthy, for €180,000 – she is in foal to a CRYSTAL OCEAN, a sire McCarthy has placed his trust in for his breeding operation. 

And finally, third in this year’s Mares’ Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, the ex-Willie Mullins-trained GRANGEE was sold to Coolmara Stables for €120,000 having been bought for €25,000 by Syndicates Racing – she was also fourth to MIGHTY POTTER and THREE STRIPE LIFE in the Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle at the Leopardstown Christmas festival, so she is a classy animal. 

It’s time to talk about Graeme Rodway 

For months now, Racing Twitter has been able to agree on one thing.  No, it’s not race planning for top horses, it’s certainly not Nicky Henderson’s decision-making and its definitely not whether Tom Skinner’s breakfasts are fucking gross or genius.

The one thing that brings Racing Twitter together is everyone’s bewilderment at Graeme Rodway’s outlandish (and usually wrong) statements. 

It’s obvious why the Racing Post continue to print and publish his comments, whether they are right or wrong (and in fairness, he has landed the odd outsider shout) they get views. Lots of views. 

How have the Racing Post and Rodway capitalised on this? Step right up, GRAEME RODWAY’S POWER RANKINGS. 

Unsurprisingly, this has caused quite a stir on Twitter for several weeks, but this week, in particular, he sparked some fiery comments across the board. 

These power rankings from Rodway is top, top shitposting from the RP and although I don’t think it’s doing any favours for their credibility, it’s certainly getting the people going…which is the aim of a newspaper, right?

Today’s best stats

14.25 COMMODORE is targeted at this race. Bolted up in it last year and unseated Deutsch the year before when pressing the winner.

14.45 GOLDEN REBEL goes for Ben Case who has won the last two running’s of this race. Quinlan itm for trainer too.

20.15 HILARY’S BOY has Lewis Edmunds in the plate, he lands 1 in 3 for the yard. Trainer 2 from 6 this season at track.

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