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Classic-winning filly Tahiyra retired

3 minute read

Trainer Dermot Weld announced to the Racing Post on Monday that his Classic-winning filly Tahiyra has been retired to stud.

TAHIYRA winning the Coronation Stakes at Ascot in England.
TAHIYRA winning the Coronation Stakes at Ascot in England. Picture: Tom Dulat/Getty Images

The four-time Group 1 winner went out on her sword when third behind runaway victor Big Rock in the QEII at Ascot on Saturday.

Tahiyra created quite the impression when winning at Galway on debut back in July last year and soon proved she was a filly with remarkable talent when beating subsequent Group 1 winner Meditate in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh on her final start as a juvenile.

The half-sister to Tarnawa was subsequently sent off the 6/4 market leader to claim Classic glory on Newmarket's Rowley Mile on her three-year-old reappearance but found Mawj half a length too strong following an interrupted preparation. She would make no mistake in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh three weeks later, however, producing a scintillating turn of foot to beat old rival Meditate in commanding fashion. It was a success that kicked off a top-level treble as impressive victories in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and Matron Stakes at Leopardstown would follow.

She failed to live with Big Rock's relentless galloping front-running style on ground that would certainly not have seen her to best effect in Saturday's QEII at Ascot. However, she lost nothing in defeat and an exciting career as a broodmare beckons for the Aga Khan-owned daughter of Siyouni.

Pat Downes, manager of the Aga Khan's Irish Studs, said: "We have been absolutely delighted with her and we have spoken about what we would do since she ran on Saturday.

"We just took a view that, unlike her sister Tarnawa, who didn't win her Group One until four, Tahiyra was obviously a champion two-year-old and a champion three-year-old and a very important filly for the future of the stud.

"We felt we had done enough with her, and she will move on now to the next stage.

"She's been an absolute star, and she ran her heart out on Saturday. We have been delighted with her and she has been a tremendous filly for us.

"We will now look forward to the next stage of her career which will be in the breeding shed."

Tahiyra finished her career with five wins from seven starts and amassed a notable £1,241,470 in prize money. She provided Chris Hayes, who rode her on all seven outings, with a first Classic success.


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