Tagaloa’s co-trainer Natalie Young feeling the signs the Australian Guineas favourite is ready for another Flemington triumph

Some positive signs can only be picked up when a trainer rides their own horses in trackwork.

Tagaloa’s co-trainer Natalie Young only grew in confidence in the colt winning Saturday’s Group 1 Australian Guineas at Flemington after she rode him in trackwork at Cranbourne on Tuesday.

Tagaloa scored his first win since last year’s Blue Diamond when he outpointed his rivals in the CS Hayes Stakes on February 13.

Young said Tagaloa’s trackwork indicated a return to his best in the CS Hayes Stakes but she said the colt showed signs he’d be harder to beat in the $1 million Australian Guineas.

“I was super happy with him,” Young, who trains Tagaloa in partnership with Trent Busuttin, said.

“He had a good hit-out. At about the 1200m, he grabbed the bit himself and wanted to go a lot quicker.

“It was good to feel him want to do it because he’s quite a lazy colt that only does what he has to.

“When he wants to grab the bit on his own, you know that he’s feeling well, and that was what he did going into the CS Hayes Stakes.”

Trainer Natalie Young (left) and Trent Busuttin prepare the Group 1 Australian Guineas favourite Tagaloa. Photo: AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy.Source:AAP

Not only do Tagaloa’s CS Hayes rivals have to make up at least a length on the son of Lord Kanaloa in the Australian Guineas, they must also counter the weight advantage he will enjoy on Saturday.

Tagaloa carried 59.5kg, giving away up to 3.5kg to his opposition last time out. But he will take on the Australian Guineas field at level weights.

“He carried 59.5kg in the CS Hayes and it was the most weight a winner has carried in the race for the last 20 years,” Young said.

“He’s now meeting them at set weights and he’s going to have an advantage carrying 2kg less.

“They had every chance to beat him in the CS Hayes and they didn’t. He just needs a good gate.”

Luke Currie will retain the ride on Tagaloa in the Australian Guineas, which will give the jockey a chance to notch another Group 1 win after he rode Artorius to victory in last Saturday’s Blue Diamond.

Tagaloa is a $4 favourite in the latest Australian Guineas betting ahead of the Leon and Troy Corstens-trained filly Zou Dancer at $5.

The Australian Guineas barrier draw will be released on Wednesday morning.

Originally published asYoung Tagging along for Guineas ride

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