Great choice by Sir Patrick. Will really suit many of his Zabeel and Stravinsky mares.

Superb effort by Tarzino to win the VRC Derby & an equally great pedigree match on paper that has delivered, featuring the 'footwear' clan via Special x 2 & Vali thru' Val De Loir x 3

Price-trained runners had finished sixth, fifth, fourth, third and second in the race so he was overdue to win with the favourite in the race but he admitted he had been feeling a little pressure.

"There was a bit of pressure and there's a great sense of relief, $2.60 favourite, it's a nice problem to have but they still have to win," Price said.

"The thing is in these sort of races you have everyone from A to Z on your phone wishing you all the best so second is no good." At his previous two starts, Tarzino had settled back in the field and had no luck and the decision was made to try and have him up handier on Saturday.

He did that but raced a little too keenly for the first 800 metres before the pace came on when Tommy Berry allowed Iron Boss to stride forward and take up the running along the river side.

The moves came early, with Red Alto going up from the 800m to go after the leaders, with Craig Newitt starting to slide forward just in behind on Tarzino He got to the outside just as they straightened, with the leaders starting to struggle.

Newitt held him together for as long as he could before pressing the button at the 350m and going for home. "On the home turn, I waited and waited," Newitt said.

But further up the straight trainer Price was just hoping there was enough in the tank to get him home first.

"At the top of the straight he was the one you wanted to be on but he was going to hit the front too early. It was a long way up the straight, I was looking for the post," a relieved Price said after the win.

On the line Tarzino, who was heavily backed late from $3.60 into $2.90 favourite, had two lengths to spare on the John O'Shea-trained Etymology, who was trapped wide in the first half of the race but stuck to his guns determinedly and his rider James McDonald said he should have finished closer.

"I could put up a case for being unlucky in the race as I was held up at a vital stage," McDonald said.

West Australian visitor Kia Ora Koutou ran on strongly for third a further 4 ¼ lengths away, after being held up for clear running in the early part of the straight.

For Price the victory was a particularly emotional one given the ownership of Tarzino which includes himself as well as his wife Caroline.

One of the horse's owners, Melissa Jury, had promised her dying husband that they would win a group race with the horse, another owner had been seriously ill and Price had recently sold a share to one of his long-time owners, Rob Ferguson.

"There is a real human element to it. It means a lot," Price said. "To do the job for them is just sensational and that is what the game is all about. It's the best game in the world this."

The ownership group had stuck together despite some huge offers from Hong Kong and with a $900,000 payday on Saturday they are no doubt pleased they declined to sell.

It is a nice return on the $60,000 Price paid for Tarzino, a son of Tavistock, a horse the trainer had in his stable during his three-year-old season.

Both Price and Newitt are confident that he Derby win is only just the start of a glittering career for Tarzino. "You'll see him in the Cox Plate, in the Melbourne Cup, he's a really good horse," Price said.

Surprised to see the Tavistock go for only $30k.

rem286 wrote: i had a look and thought she was quite a nice type.  As I said in another thread, there was some strange results.

Just looking at Tavistocks race record.  6 wins up to 1400m.  Won over 1100m, 1200m, 1400m.  We really don't understand the need for speed in stayers and that it is the sprinting/miler who carries forward the staying blood for his more stout sire.

He is certainly throwing more stamina horses overseas than pure sprinters like himself.

Must be paleface, why does a duck love it and a cat hate it..lol..( sorry mate, had to do it)

From Cambridge Stud website:

TAVISTOCK UPDATE

 

4 Nov 2019

Cambridge Stud stallion Tavistock suffered a serious injury to his near fore foot eight days ago. The foot was operated on by Dr Ric Redden from Lexington, Kentucky on Friday 1st November, assisted by two farriers and Dr Hitchcock and Dr Zantingh from Cambridge Equine Hospital. Dr Redden fitted an artificial shoe and sole to the foot and placed a support structure on the other foot to assist the horse in his recovery. 

Tavistock was confined to his box for the weekend, under observation and treatment from both Dr Hitchcock and Dr Redden, who left for the States yesterday evening. 

This morning, as the horse was still uncomfortable, it was decided, after consultation with Dr Redden who had arrived in the USA, that further surgery was necessary and would be performed by Dr Hitchcock and Dr Zantingh, in order to bring some relief. The surgery was successful and he is recovering. While we had hoped the initial surgery would have been enough, the second procedure was warranted in the horse’s best interest.

Tavistock’s recovery will be a long term process and could take up to one year. However, he is arguably entering the most promising stage of his career and we are hopeful that he will be able to resume his stud duties in 2020. 

Passed away today.

Cambridge Stud

Cambridge Stud reported eight weeks ago that Tavistock suffered a life threatening injury in a freak paddock accident.

Although he made significant progress from the initial injury, he sustained secondary complications following further surgery last week and was put down on vets advice this afternoon.

I don't like being right in things like this.  

Roaring Lion, Burgundy & now Tavistock. None of them simple losses, all lost after massive efforts to save them - the poor staff must be totally shattered.