Three-year-old Shamardal filly Tarwana holds several smart entries, including the Epsom Oaks, and on Saturday, 11 May she took a very positive step towards becoming a serious Classic contender with a convincing win in the G3 Blue Wind Stakes at Naas.
Dermot Weld’s charge was settled just off the pace under jockey Chris Hayes and looming up at the top of the straight, quickened brilliantly during the closing stages to head odds-on favourite Who’s Steph and win by a neck.
Tarwana broke her maiden over the same distance, this time at Leopardstown, last month and was subsequently third in the Listed Salsabil Stakes. She was also Listed placed at two and has never finished out of the frame in six starts.
The Blue Wind Stakes has been a significant stepping stone for future stars, with Teofilo’s multiple G1 winner Pleascach taking the race in 2016 en route to victory in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and the Darley Yorkshire Oaks.
Owned and bred by His Highness The Aga Khan, Tarwana is the first foal to race out of Cape Cross’s multiple Stakes winner Tarana.
Shamardal has now sired eight individual Black Type winners this year, headed by G1 Al Quoz Sprint victor Blue Point and 2,000 Guineas third Skardu.
