Tarnawa Delivers First BC Win for Dermot Weld

Traveling from Europe to the United States in the midst of a pandemic has been complicated and risky, to say the least.

Yet for a small collection of overseas horsemen, all that time and effort paid a handsome dividend as they shipped into Kentucky and swept all four of the turf races on the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Saturday card at Keeneland.

That highly impressive feat was capped in the richest turf race of the day as HH Aga Khan Studs' homebred filly Tarnawa rallied widest on the final turn and surged to a length victory over favored Magical in the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T).

The third consecutive group/grade 1 victory for the 4-year-old daughter of Shamardal out of the Cape Cross mare Tarana also gave trainer Dermot Weld his first Breeders' Cup win after losing with his first 16 starters. 

Apropos of 2020, Weld, the winner of the 1990 Belmont Stakes (G1) with the Irish-bred Go And Go, watched from his home across the Atlantic in Ireland due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It's been a wonderful journey with her. We're absolutely over the moon," said Mark Weld, who saddled Tarnawa in his father's absence. "It doesn't get any bigger than this. I'm thrilled for His Highness The Aga Khan and all his team and thrilled for everyone back home in Ireland. I'm sad that my dad's not here, but this COVID situation has abated that."

In providing The Aga Khan with his third Breeders' Cup victory, Tarnawa won for the fourth straight time and completed a 36-year arc for The Aga Khan, who was victorious with Lashkari back in 1984 in the first Turf at Hollywood Park.

"On behalf of His Highness The Aga Khan, I can't tell you how thrilled we are to be participating in the Breeders' Cup," said Taft McKinstry, who represented the winning owner and breeder. "It's an absolute thrill to have won this race."

Aside from Dermot Weld's absence, the specter of the coronavirus could also be seen in jockey Colin Keane, who ably rode Tarnawa to victory. Christophe Soumillon was originally scheduled to be aboard the filly, as he was for her recent victories in the Prix de l'Opera (G1) and Qatar Prix Vermeille (G1) at ParisLongchamp. But when Soumillon tested positive for COVID-19, he was forced to give up the mount on Order of Australia in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1T) and Tarnawa.

Adding to the pain of dealing with the virus, both of Soumillon's scheduled mounts were victorious. Order of Australia captured the Mile at 73-1 odds.

"It's been a brilliant year," Keane, the leading jockey in Ireland, said after his first Breeders' Cup win. "This is a dream come true."

Though Keane picked up the ride on Tarnawa at the last minute, he rode her like they were old friends.

"Instructions-wise, we left it to Colin," Mark Weld said. "He's not the champion jockey of Ireland for nothing."

After the 4-year-old lost her footing at the start of the 1 1/2-mile stakes, Keane patiently waited in eighth in the 10-horse field as Channel Maker carved out early fractions of :25.57 and :51.06 for jockey Manny Franco.

Under moderate pressure, trainer Bill Mott's multiple grade 1 winner continued to set the pace down the backstretch, opening a two-length lead at the quarter pole while covering 1 1/4 miles in 2:04.45 on the firm turf.

Tarnawa was still eighth at that point, but turning for home Keane then swung her widest of all in the five path and she closed with gusto.

"When we turned in, she quickened very smartly," Keane said.

While Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier, and Derrick Smith's Magical rallied into contention from the three path, the 9-2 third choice ($11.40) found smooth sailing on the outside and rushed to the lead leaving the sixteenth pole.

Tarnawa covered the distance in 2:28.02. It was the eighth win in 14 starts for a filly who has traveled by air, sea, and land during a career that featured earnings of $2,868,503.

Yes, sea. 

Mark Weld said the globe-trotting Tarnawa has shipped back to Ireland from France via ferry.

Behind her, classy 2-1 favorite Magical duplicated her finish in the 2018 Turf, nosing out Channel Maker for second. Lord North was another 1 3/4 lengths back in fourth.

For Magical, who was second to the legendary Enable in her previous Breeders' Cup appearance for famed European trainer Aidan O'Brien, it gave the 5-year-old daughter of Galileo a record of 12 wins and eight seconds from 27 starts with earnings of $5,994,821.

Channel Maker, a 6-year-old gelded son of 2007 Turf winner English Channel , has a record to 37-7-5-5 for owners Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R. A. Hill Stable, and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing with earnings of $2,991,551.

Given his victories in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) and the Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) coming into the Turf, Channel Maker is a leading contender for the Eclipse Award as the champion turf male.

Tarnawa is the only one of Tarana's three foals to race, and, as just the fifth filly or mare to win the Turf, she surely set the bar extremely high for any siblings to come.

"It's what dreams are made of," Mark Weld said.

Video: Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T)