The $175,000 Listed VRC Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday was won back in 2020 by Cherry Tortoni, who went to on to become a multiple Group winner of nearly $1million and the same colours were carried by this year’s winner Buccleuch.
Trained by Patrick and Michelle Payne, Buccleuch is a homebred for Sandy Tait as was Cherry Tortoni, who was also trained by Patrick.
Buccleuch started as the shortest priced favourite ever in the Taj Rossi coming off impressive wins at Echuca and Flemington and kept the momentum going with a thoroughly dominant win.
He settled back in the field for Billy Egan and powered past his rivals when given his cue and kicked right away at the finish to win by more than three lengths with ears pricked.
Michelle Payne was well pleased with Buccleuch, although believes the autumn will be his real time to shine.
“He’s just still learning what it’s all about,” she said.
“He got a bit keen – I don’t think they were going overly fast up front, which probably makes his win a little bit better.
“Just a lovely horse, he’s always showed us really nice potential.”
“He (Patrick) thinks he might be a bit of a horse better for the autumn, rather than the spring.
“He’s been on – I didn’t want to say it before the race – a bit of a working holiday, through the wintertime, and if he could pick something up along the way, even better.”
Buccleuch has the overall record of three wins and a second from five starts with prizemoney topping $230,000 and has been ridden in every start by Billy Egan.
Bred and retained to race by Sandy Tait, Buccleuch was foaled and raised at Twin Hills Stud, who stands his sire Peltzer.
He is the second winner from stakes-placed Fastnet Rock import Golden Fastnet (Fr), a half-sister to Group III winner Wind Chimes (GB), who is also at stud in Australia.
Interestingly, Wind Chimes was sold at a recent Inglis Digital Sale and topped it when selling for $305,000 in foal to Wootton Bassett (GB) to Ben Kwok, who will no doubt take a keen interest in the progress of Buccleuch.
Golden Fastnet sadly died last year, but has a yearling colt by Hallowed Crown and had a filly last spring by Prized Icon.
Buccleuch is the first stakes-winner among three first crop winners for So You Think’s speedy Group II winner Peltzer who stands at Twin Hills this spring at a fee of $11,000.
