Exciting Victorian three-year-old Tan Tat Brav will head to the listed Creswick Stakes after making a winning return in the All American at Arrowfield Stud Handicap (1000m) at Sandown today.
A member of the Doug Harrison stable at Cranbourne, Tan Tat Brav was touted a future star when he won a metropolitan event at Bendigo last July by seven lengths.
Today at his first run since a length lay off Tan Tat Brav got through the rain affected track to win by a soft half length.
And while the winning margin wasn’t big, the performance was. He carried 59 kilograms and never seemed comfortable on the boggy track.
For Harrison the win was a relief after a series of setbacks for the current stable star.
“The job is done,” Harrison commented. “We had to find somewhere to kick him off.”
“There weren’t too many options and we had to come here today.”
“I think he’s done a good job. I don’t think he handled it.”
Harrison said the lightly raced three-year-old would have his next run in in the Creswick Stakes at Flemington.
“You’d be hoping he’s a spring horse. It would be nice to pick up the listed race with him first. He is a colt.”
Raced by a pair of Hong Kong based clients, Tan Tat Brav was one of the most admired individuals at the 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The Evergreen Stud graduate was a stunning youngster according to Harrison and he had to go to $360,000 to buy him.
“He looked a great horse up there when we went to buy him. It looks a great choice now.”
Not everything has gone to script for Tan Tat Brav.
Following his outstanding debut win he went to Moonee Valley and was run down in the shadows of the post by course specialist True Persuasion.
“As it turned out that wasn’t the right race for him,” Harrison reported. “He pulled up quite shin sore.”
Heading for a spell – Tan Tat Brav then had to go under the knife – with a couple of operations.
“He’s had a few little issues (including bone chips). He had a wind operation as well – you always wonder whether they’re going to come back from that.”
“He’s a quality horse,” Harrison summed up.
Proven big race rider Steven King was impressed with the victory – saying there was plenty against Tan Tat Brav this afternoon.
“There were a few negatives out there today. First up, heavy track with the 59 (kilograms) and a long straight.”
“To the horse’s credit he’s obviously well above average.”
“You’d think there would be a lot of improvement in him,” King summed up.
Evergreen Stud Farm have a half brother to Tan Tat Brav heading to June’s Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.
The Flying Spur yearling is the latest yearling from the beautifully related and top producing Nureyev mare Tamari.
The Gold Coast bound yearling is therefore a full brother to Group Two Grand Prix Stakes winner Spuruson and four time Hong Kong winner Flying Tamari.
