Tarzing strikes in Sydney

Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Tarzing (NZ) (Tarzino) claimed his first Sydney victory with an impressive performance in the A$160,000 Irresistible Pools and Spas Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

The son of Westbury Stud stallion Tarzino was a $250,000 purchase by Chris Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock from Book 1 of Karaka 2023, and he began his career in Victoria with wins at Seymour and Geelong in his first two starts.

Tarzing later relocated to Waller’s Rosehill stable, and his first two Sydney appearances produced a third at Warwick Farm in February and another third placing at Rosehill on June 13.

He went a couple better on Saturday. Ridden by top apprentice Siena Grima, Tarzing settled in third along the rail before getting out at the top of the straight with the front-runner Big Papa (NZ) (Astern) in his crosshairs.

Tarzing moved through his gears and reeled in that rival, going on to win by three-quarters of a length. The two Kiwi-breds were clearly superior to the rest of the Benchmark 72 field, with a margin of almost three lengths back to third.

Tarzing has now had five starts for three wins and two placings, earning A$154,250 in stakes.

“He’s quite promising,” Waller’s assistant trainer Darren Beadman said. “He really hasn’t put a foot wrong. His form was good in Melbourne, and he came up here in good order. He had a couple of trials up here going into his first-up run, which was very good for a horse still big in condition and from a wide draw.

“Siena popped him straight into a nice spot today and it was the difference. Obviously Big Papa was the one to beat, and she stalked him all the way and he went through his gears nicely.

“I thought he was in some sort of trouble for about 50m there at about the furlong, but once she gathered him up and got hold of his head and gave him a bit of a wake-up, he knuckled down well.

“It was a nice win, he's going through his grades nicely.”

Tarzing was bred by Jamieson Park and is by Tarzino out of the Commands mare Coyote Miss, who was a placegetter on the racetrack and is a half-sister to the Group Three performers Mary Lou, Territorial Waters and Back Off.

Coyote Miss is the dam of six winners from eight foals to race, including five-race winner Peace Officer (NZ) (Iffraaj).

Jamieson Park offered Tarzing during the 2022 National Weanling Sale at Karaka, where Landsdowne Park bought him for $110,000. Landsdowne later re-offered him during Book 1 of Karaka 2023, where he was recruited by Waller and Mulcaster.