Tarnawa enters Oaks picture after Blue Wind success

Talented four-year-old Who's Steph was an odds-on favourite for the Group 3 Irish National Stud Racing Irish EBF Blue Wind Stakes at Naas following her recent runaway listed success at Gowran Park, but the Ger Lyons-trained grey was caught near the line by Tarnawa, who won by a neck. That Dermot Weld-trained three-year-old could now head for the Group 1 Investec Oaks at Epsom.

The Ballydoyle three-year-olds Delphinia and Peach Tree were another three-quarters of a length and short-head back in third and fourth. The winner was partnered by Chris Hayes.

Tarnawa was placed in each of her three outings as a two-year-old, the final one being in a mile listed contest at Navan in which she chased home Peach Tree, who won by one and three-quarter lengths. The chestnut stepped up to ten furlongs on her seasonal reappearance at Leopardstown in early April, won that maiden, then finished third to Pink Dogwood in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes over the same trip at Navan 25 days later.

Tarnawa edges out Who's Steph to win the Irish National Stud Racing Irish EBF Blue Wind Stakes at @NaasRacecourse pic.twitter.com/EFHCL3Pqew

— Horse Racing Ireland (@GoRacing) May 11, 2019

The daughter of Kildangan Stud's outstanding stallion Shamardal (by Giant's Causeway) is the first foal of Tarana (by Cape Cross). That mare won a mile maiden at two, was runner-up in the Listed Trigo Stakes over ten furlongs at Leopardstown at three and had a notably good season at the age of four.

She won the Listed Martin Molony Stakes at Limerick and Listed Oyster Stakes at Galway, both over 12 furlongs, and her four other pieces of blacktype that year included third place in the Group 3 Curragh Cup over 14 furlongs. Her only other foal is a Fastnet Rock (by Danehill) colt born in mid-May of last year.

Tarana is a daughter of the Group 3-placed Listed Galtres Stakes winner Tarakala (by Dr Fong) and granddaughter of the dual stakes-placed Tarakala (by Shahrastani), and so she represents a branch of the family whose many blacktype winners include Group 1 Prix Royal-Oak scorer Tiraaz (by Lear Fan) and Group 1 Phoenix Stakes heroine Damson (by Entrepreneur).

In addition to the Epsom classic, Tarnawa holds entries in the Group 1 Juddmonte Pretty Polly Stakes and Group 1 Darley Irish Oaks. She needs to make further improvement to be up to winning at the highest level, but it would not be a surprise to see her make such progress.