Natalie Young is hoping an inside barrier draw can help Tagaloa put a frustrating run of outs behind him and recapture his best form in the C S Hayes Stakes at Flemington.
The colt has been racing without luck and has gone winless in six starts since taking out the Blue Diamond Stakes as a two-year-old.
“He seems to only know one way to race recently and that’s three-deep without cover,” Young said on RSN on Thursday.
Tagaloa’s misfortune began last spring and continued first up when he finished third in the Manfred Stakes at Caulfield over 1200 metres.
In what has become a common sight for his trainers, he was trapped three-wide from the outset in the five-horse field and fought on to finish third.
“Even after that he still ran the fastest last 200 metres in the race, so I’m looking forward to getting him to 1400 metres,” Young said.
Young, who trains in partnership with Trent Busuttin, is hoping everything finally falls into place for Tagaloa in Saturday’s C S Hayes Stakes to give him an opportunity to return to the winner’s circle.
“It’s going to be nice to get him to Flemington from barrier one. Hopefully he’ll take up a forward spot, hopefully take the corner, then wind up strongly,” Young said.
Young expects Tagaloa to settle handy to the speed and she has no qualms if he takes up the running.
Based on his trackwork, she feels the three-year-old is getting back to his best.
“He’s starting to get his swagger back about him. Fitness-wise, he wasn’t quite there going into his first-up run but I feel he’s there now,” she said.
Young’s only concern is Tagaloa’s 59.5kg handicap, as under the set weights and penalties conditions he has to give weight to the rest of the field.
Tagaloa will be ridden by Luke Currie for the first time and Young believes he will suit the colt.
