Fabulous Red made her Nursery debut at Kempton yesterday and we were hopeful the step up in trip would bring about some improvement from our filly. She showed plenty of promise when staying on in all three of her runs over six furlongs and she had chased home the smart Eirene on her debut.
Oisin Murphy sat Fabulous Red in the box seat during the early exchanges and she settled well and travelled kindly. Murphy had to wait momentarily to get a run but our filly was brave and she went through the gap that opened without hesitation and went to the head of affairs over half a furlong out. The challengers would not go away and it looked like our filly had a battle on her hands but she found more for pressure and was going away at the line to win by three quarters of a length.
Tadleel was also stepping up in trip and he was looking to get back on the winning trail after suffering two unlucky seconds post his Newmarket success. He broke on terms this time and took a lead without being too far off the early gallop. He travelled sweetly as the field entered the straight and he took it up over a furlong out and quickened clear. He kept on gamely and never looked like getting caught by the running on Jazeel to bring up a quick fire double.
Both of the horses showed a fantastic attitude and a will to win that will serve them well going forward. Fabulous Red shaped as if she will get a mile without any problems and Tadleel was perfectly suited by this step up to a mile. The handicapper cannot be too punitive with either horse and we hope there is more to come from the two of them. This was an important first win for Fabulous Red as she is out of Mr Arculli’s Listed placed mare Red Fantasy and by his own Red Jazz who has had a successful first season in 2017. Tadleel is by the sensational Dark Angel whose progeny are getting increasingly popular and he is the first foal by the Bahamian Bounty mare Quelle Affaire.
Congratulations to the Hon Mr Arculli and Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum who own Fabulous Red and Tadleel. It has been a good week at La Grange with two doubles and plenty more horses running well and shaping as if they are winners waiting to happen. A lot of team work has gone into Fabulous Red with Antonio Fresu deserving a special mention as he has done plenty of work on her at home recently and we are delighted that we are now approaching the forty winner mark for 2017.