With six previous black type placed performance, it was a fantastic result for the connections of the Philip Stokes trained Dansili (GB) gelding Taramansour (IRE) as the 9yo charged away to win the $300,000 Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) by three and a quarter lengths.
Having initially started his career in Ireland, Taramansour made his way to Australia and the Matt Cumani stable before transferring to the Stokes yard and having his first run for that stable back in August 2023.
The Stokes stable saddled up two runners with Taramansour’s stablemate Skippers Canyon (NZ) jumping away the race favourite with Lachlan Neindorf in the saddle, while Taramansour was unwanted in the betting starting at 30/1 odds.
From barrier 10, jockey Luke Currie settled Taramansour in a mid-field position while the Ciaron Maher trained Ziryab (GB) went forward to take up the running.
With not much change happening until the 1000m from home, Currie was one of the first to make a move, sending Taramansour forward where the gelding was sitting in third as the field commenced the run into the home straight.
As Ziryab put up the white flag, Taramansour hit the lead, but the runs were starting to come with Star Vega (IRE) coming down the outside while Chris Waller’s Etna Rosso (IRE) was coming along the inside.
Seemingly to step up into another gear, Taramansour simply charged away from the rest of the field, pulling clear to win by three and a quarter lengths and in the process record his first stakes victory.
Finishing in second after coming from a long way back was the Anthony and Sam Freddman trained Star Vega, while Etna Rosso recorded his fith black type placing from his last six starts when beaten a short-head into third.
“We were happy with the horse but he had just been getting out of his ground, but Luke gave him a peach of a ride,” said Stokes post race.
“He got going early and he was very fit into this. After his last run, a few of the owners said let's retire him, let's tip him out, but I said 'no, he's going OK'.
“We changed things up a bit and I have to give a big thank-you to the team behind us, especially Ross Elliot, he's been schooling him out the back, and I think that's really helped him.
“For an old horse, a nine-year-old, rising ten, he's a very sound horse. Credit to everyone, they've done a great job."
Despite his race plan not falling into place, Currie was happy with how things panned out.
“The plan was to be positive and we were, but he wasn't quick enough to be in the first few,” said Currie.
“It took a long time to get back into a spot. I got beaten to a spot twice going around the first corner and I thought I've missed the boat, but I ended up getting in and he just pulled.
“I was behind Cavity Bay which rolled out as I got in and I thought down the back they've backed it off a bit, so I thought we'd roll forward.
“He's tough, fit, no weight, but I thought he might be vulnerable late. I didn't think he'd keep running like he did.
“By the time we got half-way around the corner, I thought there was no point in stopping him now.
“He had made his move. I was happy to come out to the middle and make our run there. He wandered a little being on his own.
“I pulled the stick through to the left which sometimes, especially those horses out in front, it can switch them back on, which it did, and he was strong through the line off a pretty tough run.”
Taking his earnings to $743,056 from seen wins and a further 13 placed efforts from 44 starts, the gelding was purchased at the 2020 Goffs Autumn HIT sale for 105,000 Euros by JS Bloodstock and M Cumani Racing.
Bred by His Highness The Aga Khan’s Studs, Taramansour becomes the fourth stakes winner from six winners out of the Dalakhani mare Tanour, joining Tarawa, Tanaza and Taniyar – all Group 3 winners.
Taramansour’s victory gave Dansili his 154th stakes winner, highlighted by 24 individual Group 1 winners, of which the Chris Waller trained Grand Marshall and Forteller are best known to Australian audiences.
