'Taghrooda is a special mare for us all at Shadwell' - catching up with the 2014 King George winner

Taghrooda's win in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes very much fell into Plan B territory, but her second career has led to two sons rated in excess of 100, most notably Israr.

The daughter of Sea The Stars was not originally targeted at Ascot's midsummer highlight when she won it in 2014, as she had been declared for the Irish Oaks the previous week but was pulled out by trainer John Gosden after a plane malfunction prevented her travelling to the Curragh.

However, all was well that ended well for the Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned star as she became the first three-year-old filly to triumph in the all-aged contest since Pawneese in 1976 when she accounted for Telescope and Mukhadram under Paul Hanagan.

Taghrooda was making her first start since landing the Oaks in impressive fashion by three and three-quarter lengths and set a modern precedent when following up at Ascot as it was a path also taken by the mighty Enable three years later.

Since her final outing in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, when she finishing third to the mighty Treve, Taghrooda has spent most of her days at Shadwell’s Irish operation at Derrinstown Stud in County Kildare where her best offspring has been Group 2 and Royal Ascot winner Israr.

Israr: out of King George winner TaghroodaCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

He won nearly £500,000 in prize-money under the care of John and Thady Gosden and had his finest hour when landing the Group 2 Princess of Wales’s Stakes at the Newmarket July festival in 2023 when he accounted for Derby winner Adayar.

Mark Dean, stallion manager at Shadwell’s Beech House Stud in Newmarket, knows plenty about Israr as the now six-year-old retired to the site at the end of last year.  

He said: “Israr is such a gentleman. He’s enjoying retirement here and he was at the stallion parade this year.”

As for Taghrooda, Dean added: “Taghrooda is a special mare for us all at Shadwell and she has spent most of her time at Derrinstown Stud in Ireland since her glory days."

Read more in the Where Are They Now series:

'Anytime anyone is shown around the stud farm, we get two questions: is Sariska still alive and can they go and see her?' 

Frankel’s equal as a juvenile, an historic winner of the July Cup and honoured with a bar at Newmarket - catching up with Dream Ahead 

Unique Newcastle star Overturn 'a million dollars' at home with fellow Tim Leslie/Donald McCain stalwarts 

Royal Ascot sprint star Kingsgate Native 'living a wonderful life' after varied roles in retirement

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