Another First for Debut Stallion Tagaloa

Gr1 Blue Diamond winner Tagaloa, who has been retired to Yulong (see above), is the first son of superb Japanese stallion Lord Kanaloa (King Kamehameha) to go to stud in Australia, and a major opportunity for Victorian breeders. He is the first foal out of winning mare Vasilissa (Jpn), whose sire Heart’s Cry (Jpn) is best known in this part of the world for producing the breathtaking Cox Plate winner Lys Gracieux (Jpn). Vasilissa is a half-sister to three black-type performers, headed by stakes winner Tricolore Bleu (Jpn) (Stay Gold (Jpn). Their dam is Penkenna Princess (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), who won two races at two then trained on to win the G3 Fred Darling S. and placed in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas. A son of two-time champion Japanese sire King Kamehameha (Jpn), Lord Kanaloa was Japan’s champion first-season sire in 2017 – siring 32 winners in that debut season, 12 more than his nearest rival. The two-time Gr1 Hong Kong Sprint winner has so far sired a total of 25 individual stakes winners, headed by the ten-time winner and twice Japanese Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn). “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,” said co-trainer Trent Busuttin. “On type he’s a big powerful, striking colt. He’s got a lovely head, athletic physique and a great frame.” At this year’s Inglis Australia Easter Yearling Sale, a half-sister to Tagaloa by Not a Single Doubt (Redoute’s Choice) fetched $900,000.