Sandy Tait has experienced many Group One wins with horses bred and raced by his family.
But perhaps one of the more satisfying winners in the famous red and white colours came on Saturday when Zanbagh took out the Group Two Emancipation Stakes at Rosehill.
Zanbagh
Prepared by Guy Walter to second placings in the VRC and Australian Oaks, Zanbagh is a lasting reminder of the trainer who died suddenly two years ago.
Walter also trained 13-time Group One winner Tie The Knot for the Taits among many other elite performers.
Zanbagh was sent to Patrick Payne in Victoria but he had little success and retirement loomed.
“Her form dropped off and it was touch and go whether she was retired,” Tait said.
“But we decided to give her another go and sent her to John Thompson at Randwick and now we are looking at going to a Group One, the Queen Of The Turf.
“As a three-year-old she raced against a great group of fillies including Rising Romance and Solicit.
“And now she is back to her best. It’s great to see.”
While Zanbagh’s 2014 Oaks conqueror Rising Romance ran fifth in the BMW at Rosehill, Solicit took her place in the Emancipation (1500m) as the $2.10 favourite.
But she was unable to get her usual customary lead with Supara ($31) assuming the front-running role.
Blake Shinn brough Zanbagh ($11) out of the pack in the straight and ran Supara down to win by a half length with Amicus ($21) another half-head third.
Solicit weakened to beat just one runner, Thunder Lady, home.
The win was one that thrilled Shinn who rode Zanbagh in her two Oaks and looked on Walter as a surrogate father.
“This means a lot to me,” he said.
“Coming here today she was one horse I really wanted to win.”
