Bennett Racing British import Tajawal(GB) opened his Australian account at Taree last week when bolting in over 2018m in track record time. Having his 7th run on Australian soil the Annabel Neasham / Rob Archibald galloper relished the drop in grade and the distance to run out a comfortable winner by 2.3 Len on the soft track.
The well bred son of Champion sire Frankel was 3rd up and went to a lowly race at Taree where it was hoped he would find his form and get a confidence booster. With senior jockey Jean Van Overmeire taking over from the apprentice Tajawal looked very well placed here. Settling behind the leaders he travelled beautifully the whole way before Jean Van Overmeire hooked around heels into the straight. He cantered up to them under a hold and went on for a very soft win in 2m05.31s running the last 600m in a slick 35.98s. His winning time of 2m05.31s smashed the old track record (set in 2017) of 2m08.18s.
What a fantastic turn around for Tajawal. He looked a different horse with winkers On and riding the speed. Jean Van Overmeire had him travelling sweetly and the horse responded with a nice burst of speed when asked. To go on a win comfortably and smash the track record is very hard to fathom. The plan hatched by Bennett Racing to drop him in class and go to Taree had the desired result.
The win took the imports overall record to 14 starts 2:2:3 & prizemoney: $59,251.
The team will now look to see what happens with him now he has won a race. Although it was an average field, he did run good time.
By undefeated Champion racehorse and Sire Frankel Tajawal was a120k gns purchase from the 2023 Tattersalls Horses In Training Sale by Blandford Bloodstock / Bennett Racing / Annabel Neasham Racing. He is a son of the Gr3 placed Street Cry mare Feedyah from the family of Gr1 Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente.
Congratulations to all owners in Tajawal and thankyou to Annabel and Rob for getting Tajawal’s first win here.