June 18, 2008

AUSTRALIAN speedster Haradasun blitzed the opening day of Royal Ascot with a sensational win in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes (1600m).

The five-year-old champion, the 5-1 second favourite, enjoyed a narrow victory over French filly Darjina and Ireland's Finsceal Beo who battled it out for second and third in the first race of the five-day carnival.

However success eluded Haradasun's compatriot, Takeover Target, who failed to repeat his success two years ago in the Kings Stand Stakes (1000m) and suffered a shock half-length defeat to Spain's Equiano.

As Haradasun returned to the winner's circle, a small chant of "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oi, oi, oi" could be heard as owner Frank Tagg congratulated jockey Johnny Murtagh and Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien.

"Obviously it's the highlight of this horse's career without doubt and for us as owners," Tagg said after accepting the winner's trophy from former Australian cricket captain and commentator Richie Benaud.

"It's just a wonderful occasion. (We are) just so, so proud of the horse.

"He dug really deep today and I think he proved just what a great horse he really is.

"To win at Royal Ascot, it's obviously one of the ultimates of racing and to think that we achieved that with our own home-bred horse, it's a terrific memory for us."

Tagg sold a half share in Haradasun, who won the 2007 George Ryder Stakes and Doncaster Handicap, for a reported $22 million to Irish stud Coolmore in April last year.

After this success, Tagg hopes that there might be time for the horse to enter one or two more European races before he returns to Australia where he will retire from racing and stand at stud.

"I would assume that we would have one or two more runs here in Europe on that run today and then we will make a decision on whether we bring him back to Australia for the southern hemisphere breeding season," Tagg said.

"There's plenty of time for him to race here in the UK and Europe before we have to make that decision."

O'Brien described Haradasun as "a natural".

"From day one with us he was always naturally very fast, very quick ... you can see why everyone was so excited about him in Australia," he told the BBC.

Meanwhile Takeover Target's surprise loss has not dampened the hopes of the nine-year-old gelding's trainer Joe Janiak, who believes the horse has a strong chance in Saturday's prestigious Golden Jubilee Stakes.

"(Jockey) Jay (Ford) just jumped off the horse and he said he nearly had it but the winner kept taking him on and our bloke just couldn't find enough there to speed away from him which probably won't happen over six furlongs," Janiak said.

"So I think he is looking good (for Saturday)."