Bargain buy Tamfana giving ‘people from all walks of life' a taste of big time

Daily Mirror

16-05-2025

The filly originally cost her connections just £16,000 and has earned more than £500,000 before she lines up as one of the leading contenders in the £400,000 Lockinge Stakes
Bargain buy filly Tamfana is giving 'people from all walks of life' a taste of racing's big time as she returns to Group 1 company to contest the £500,000 Boylesports Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.
Since being purchased for just £16,000 by ace bloodstock agent Jeremy Brummitt she has taken members of the Quantum Leap Racing syndicate to Newmarket for the 1,000 Guineas, Chantilly for the French Oaks and British Champions Day at Ascot for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
‌
She was placed in each as well as managing to post two wins, including her first at Group 1 level in the Sun Chariot Stakes.
‌
Her four-year-old campaign under trainer David Meniusier began with a second at Sandown behind Dancing Gemini who she meets again on much better terms in the first older horse Group 1 race of the year.
'It's great to see a syndicate having a runner in a race like this,' said Quantum Leap founder and chairman Eamonn O'Connor. 'We have publicans, barristers, construction workers, teachers, IT professionals in our group, all walks of life.
'We have about 12 shares in the horse and therefore we end up with about 24 people and their partners at the racecourse.
'Tamfana came from a sale in Germany that we frequent every year. We tend to focus on buying staying stock and horses that come into their own at three years old and beyond and probably over middle distances.
'We only buy horses we think are going to be decent. The price tag is almost irrelevant. Jeremy Brummitt buys our horses. I don't give him a set figure, he only buys horses that he likes.
‌
'We knew pretty early that Tamfana might be okay. We are quite an ambitious syndicate. We buy horses to compete up to Group 1 level or if not heritage handicaps. We are not interested in low grade races.'
Past stars for the syndicate include Ottilien, who was sold for £500,000 after winning three times, and Rodrigo Diaz who took his owners to Dubai and Australia, where injury ended his Melbourne Cup challenge.
‌
O'Connor said: 'We produce a good horse every year, rated between 90 and 105. Our model is generally to sell probably to an overseas jurisdiction, replenish the pot and go again.
'If you'd wanted to buy a quarter share of Tamfana it would have cost £4,000 plus a £7,000 syndicate fee which is divided among the members.
'We grow quietly by referral and introductions. We have had great days out with Tamfana and hopefully Saturday will be another. I'd be disappointed if we're not in the first four. We are going there with a degree of confidence.'