Lope De Vega sibling to Tarnawa and Tahiyra among blue-blooded debutantes at Leopardstown

Our resident bloodstock experts profile the well-bred eyecatchers and expensive purchases set to grace the track.

Tarima

"Look De Vega" At Ballylinch Stud Fillies Maiden (2.00 Leopardstown, Sunday)

What's the story?

The "Look De Vega" At Ballylinch Stud Fillies Maiden sees seven runners head to post, with beautifully bred sorts from the Aga Khan Studs and Coolmore operations among the line-up. 

Look De Vega won the Prix du Jockey Club last year and joins his sire Lope De Vega at Ballylinch, as the race name suggests. It is therefore appropriate to shine a light on the Aga Khan's daughter of Lope De Vega, the blue-blooded Tarima. 

How's she bred?

The three-year-old is the fifth foal out of the dual Listed-winning Cape Cross mare Tarana. The 15-year-old has proven an exceptional producer at stud, with her three winners headed by Group 1 heroines Tarnawa (a close relation to Tarima by the late Shamardal) and Tahiyra (Siyouni). 

Tarnawa won the Blandford Stakes, Give Thanks Stakes and Blue Wind Stakes at three for Dermot Weld but really came into her own as an older performer. After landing her second Give Thanks Stakes on her seasonal reappearance at four, she went on to notch up a top-level hat-trick in the Prix Vermeille, Prix de l'Opera and Breeders' Cup Turf. 

She returned at five to place second in the Irish Champion Stakes and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, as well as landing another Group success in the Ballyroan Stakes.

Tahiyra with her first foal, a filly by Justify, this yearCredit: Aga Khan Studs

Tahiyra, meanwhile, was unbeaten in two starts at two, including the Moyglare Stud Stakes, while she went on to Classic glory the following season in the Irish 1,000 Guineas for Weld. The daughter of Siyouni also won the Coronation and Matron Stakes, as well as placing in the 1,000 Guineas and Queen Elizabeth Stakes before her retirement to the Aga Khan's broodmare ranks. 

Tarnawa has a yearling filly by Siyouni and heads to Frankel this term, while Tahiyra produced her first foal, a filly by Justify, this year. She heads to Wootton Bassett, while their dam will be covered by Too Darn Hot. Tarana also has a yearling filly by Dubawi. 

Who does she face?

The standout rivals look to be the two from the Aidan and Donnacha O'Brien stables. 

Ballydoyle newcomer Intensify is another by Lope De Vega and is out of the Group-winning Holy Roman Emperor mare Sunday Times, a half-sister to the dam of Irish Derby winner Latrobe and Oaks second Pink Dogwood. Intensify is in turn a sister to Newspaperofrecord, a runaway winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf who also landed another top-level contest in the Just A Game Stakes at four. 

Crystal Ball is another regally bred Coolmore newcomer as a Wootton Bassett half-sister to the late, great American champion Tepin - an $8 million purchase by MV Magnier from the 2017 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. That mare is the dam of last year's Prix de Royallieu winner Grateful (Galileo) as well as Delacroix, a winner of the Autumn Stakes and a nose second in the Futurity Trophy. 

Crystal Ball is also a half-sibling to multiple American Graded scorer Vyjack, by Into Mischief.

Read more

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‘Everybody who breeds aspires to breed a Group 1 winner’ - Wathnan Racing aiming high with top-class matings and returning stable stars 

Aga Khan Studs announce mating plans for stellar broodmare band and stallion roster 

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