It is not often that full relations compete at the same meeting on the same afternoon but siblings Jojo Was A Man and California Grass are set to join that rare club at Randwick.
Both by Al Maher out of Jo Jo Girl, the brother and sister will step out in vastly different races, JoJo Was A Man resuming in Saturday’s James Squire Handicap (1400m), while California Grass lines up for the seventh time this campaign in the Precise Air Handicap (2400m).
Both carry the famous Tait family colours of red with a white cap, silks John Thompson has enjoyed success with since taking over the training of multiple stakes winner Zanbagh in 2015 following the sudden death of her original trainer Guy Walter 18 months earlier.
Walter had prepared the likes of star gallopers Tie The Knot, Spinning Hill and Wild Iris for the Taits and the late horseman was also a close friend of Thompson’s.
“That was the start. When Guy passed, Zanbagh came to me and it snowballed from there,” Thompson said.
“As a boy growing up, I was close to Guy. Guy lived next door to my parents.
“I think that might have been the reason for the transition to me because we were always close.
“It has been a good association since. I’ve had a lot of luck with them, a few stakes wins. (Family patriarch) Sandy (Tait) owns a few horses independently and his two sons own these two horses.”
While JoJo Was A Man and California Grass are from the same genetic pool, Thompson says the two could hardly be more different.
“They’re complete opposites. JoJo is a stallion and he is a real 1400 to mile specialist, whereas California is just like mum. She is a 2400-metre, out-and-out stayer,” Thompson said.
“She is a lovely mare and the more she runs, the better she will get. She is a real, genuine, honest stayer that will go through the grades and win a nice race one day.”
JoJo Was A Man is an eight-time winner, most recently in the Winter Challenge in July.
It followed a period in which he appeared to lose form, but Thompson said that was due to an injury setback and he expected the gelding to have another competitive campaign.
“He fractured a pedal bone and it took him six months to come right, but now he is good, one hundred per cent again,” Thompson said.
“He has drawn well and it’s a nice race to kick him off in. He looks to be going as good as ever.”
