Tabata strikes black type gold

Progressive Waikato Stud-bred and sold mare Tabata has boosted her future broodmare value with success in today’s Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ S.

The Stephen Marsh-trained runner looked a forlorn hope halfway down the straight before she hit top gear and got in the deciding stride on the post.

“At the top of the straight I didn’t think we could win the race and I was just hoping that we could perhaps run into a place at that stage,” he said.

“We were hoping to pick up some black type for her record when she eventually goes to the broodmares paddock. She has got a very good finish on her and when she started to pick up, I started to think we might snatch third, but her last 50 metres was just phenomenal.”

Marsh will now work on an autumn program for Tabata, who has proved her versatility on all track conditions.

“She is very honest and goes well in the wet and today she showed she handles it firm as by the time they ran the race the track was pretty hard underfoot,” he said.

“She has had two big trips away now, here and to Trentham last time so a few easy days in the paddock won’t hurt and we can think about our autumn targets.

“Her breeding and the way she handled the 1600 metres today suggests to me a race like the G2 Travis S. later on in April might be an ideal target.”

Tabata was purchased by former Black Caps cricket captain Brendon McCullum under his Vermair Bloodstock banner and Hughes Bloodstock for $100,000 from the Waikato Stud draft at the 2018 Book 1 sale at Karaka.

She is out of Pins’ daughter Splitsecond, who was a winner and placed in the Listed Sunline Vase and is out of the Centaine mare Lowland.

She is a sister to the G1 Arrowfield Stud S. winner Sixty Seconds and the G3 Manawatu Classic winner Spottswoode and also the family of the multiple G1 winners Xtravagant, now resident at Newhaven Park, and Legs.