Heys wins with son of a gun

As the trainer of two-time Group One placegetter Spieth, Bryce Heys is well equipped to get the best out of the ill-fated sire’s offspring and he has done exactly that with Warwick Farm winner Tamaroa.

Spieth was agonisingly nosed out of victory in both the 2016 Darley Classic and the following year’s Lightning Stakes before embarking on a stud career in 2018 prior to his sudden and premature death last year.

Four-year-old Tamaroa was part of his first crop and while he might never reach the heights of Spieth, Heys said he was typical of his sire.

“They just need a little bit of time. They’re very immature like he was and very soft,” Heys said.

“Unfortunately, we lost him (Spieth) but we’ve got a couple. They show obvious ability but whether they’re cut out for Sydney conditions because they need a lot of time, I don’t know, but this fella here will hopefully win another one after this.”

Tamaroa had four starts at his initial campaign, including a fourth to subsequent Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Ozzmosis at Gosford in May.

Heys said he had returned a stronger horse this time around and had been specifically set for Wednesday’s TAB Handicap (1100m), given its status as a ‘super maiden’ and the resultant $100,000 prizemoney purse.

He was ridden by Zac Lloyd, who found a beautiful trailing position behind the speed before bringing bookmakers Tamaroa ($3.80) through the middle of the ruck to run down leader Te Pani ($7) by three-quarters of a length with Ausbred Mimosa ($7.50) doing her best work late for third.

“The horse was prepped up and targeted this race here given the nature of the race,” Heys said.

“He raced without any luck and probably lacked a little bit of maturity physically last preparation and that cost us in the run a few times.

“But he’s come back a little bit improved, I thought his trials were really good and I appreciated Zac’s ride today, it was outstanding.”

Lloyd had ridden Tamaroa in his two lead-up trials and expected a bold run provided he could overcome his sticky draw in barrier seven.

“The barrier was a bit tricky but once the horse began well he put himself in a winnable position,” Lloyd said.

“Early on he was just struggling to relax in his races and he showed today that he can switch off quite well and probably get up to six or seven furlongs in the future, which will suit him.”

Lloyd made it a double two races later when leading throughout aboard Jason Attard and Lucy Keegan-Attard’s outsider Luvoir, who he has now ridden seven times for three wins and two seconds.