New Year cheer for Falco and Nunstainton Stud as Tahmuras lands Tolworth Hurdle

On what was a brilliant afternoon at Sandown for the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates, Tahmuras provided Nunstainton Stud's new sire Falco with his second Grade 1 hurdles success after Peace And Co's Triumph Hurdle almost eight years ago.

Following on from owner-mate and Mares' Novices' Hurdle winner Love Envoi's romp in the Listed mares' event on Sandown's Saturday card, Tahmuras was travelling ominously well in the feature event, where even two sticky jumps at the final hurdles could not stop his momentum.

His triumph came about after Nunstainton Stud announced that it would be standing the French 2,000 Guineas-winning son of Pivotal, who has also sired not just Peace And Go but the Grade 1-placed Hitman among his most notable jumps performers in Britain.

Falco, who started his stallion career at Haras d'Etreham at a fee of €8,000 after his Classic victory for owner-breeder Wertheimer and trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias, has since resided at Haras du Grand Chesnaie as well as Elusive Bloodstock's Hundred Acre Farm.

He now stands at the County Durham-based Nunstainton Stud for a fee of £2,000.

Odeliz: a dual Group 1 winner for Falco on the FlatCredit: Laura Green

A notably classy sire in both codes, Falco has also produced Prix Jean Romanet and Premio Lydia Tesio heroine Odeliz, as well as Group 3 winners Xenobia and Snowday on the Flat.

His high-class hurdling son, who was bred by G A E C Stewart, sold from Rathturtin Stud to Monbeg Stables for €10,000 at the 2020 Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale.

He subsequently won his only point-to-point start in a four-year-old maiden at Ballingarry for Donnchadh Doyle, before making £68,000 to Hagg Hill Farm at the 2021 Tattersalls Cheltenham May Sale.

To further highlight the shrewd buying of the Fehily and David Crosse syndicate and its connections, Love Envoi had sold for just £38,000 to Jerry McGrath at the Cheltenham Festival Sale around two months before.

Tahmuras was a close second on his rules debut in a bumper at Ffos Las before winning at Wincanton in March last season. He has now won all three starts over hurdles, supplementing his Listed score at Haydock last time with a two-and-a-half-length success here.

The six-year-old is the first foal out of the unraced Whipper mare Alinga's Lass, a half-sister to two minor winners. She has a four-year-old colt by Dink named Ace Of Spades.

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