Latest news with #Tamfana
Powys County Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Menuisier retains full faith in Tamfana
David Menuisier is confident further big days will come the way of his star filly Tamfana when given optimum conditions. A Group One winner last term in the Sun Chariot Stakes, Tamfana began the new season with a respectable second behind Roger Teal's Dancing Gemini at Sandown, but struggled to land a blow in the Lockinge Stakes with both the quick going and a less than perfect passage through the race counting against her at Newbury. Menuisier said: 'She's fine and has come out of the Lockinge well. Obviously the ground at Newbury was a touch quick and when she came to make her challenge the door was shut on her, then it was just a matter of coming home at her own pace after that. 'You saw in the Sandown Mile on good to soft ground she had the Lockinge winner covered and although Dancing Gemini may have been ahead of us, we had to carry a penalty. 'We learned plenty at Newbury, which was part of the reason why I went for the Lockinge. Sometimes you learn a lot more in defeat than in victory and I'm learning a lot at the moment.' Menuisier is 'open-minded' as to where to head next with the four-year-old, who has raced over a mile in her last five outings but has a multitude of entries for races over further. The Sussex-based Frenchman admitted his search for some cushion underfoot could see the daughter of Soldier Hollow miss Royal Ascot, but the Curragh's 10-furlong Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes at the end of the month (June 28) could represent a suitable alternative. Menuisier added: 'I'm open-minded what I do next in terms of race and trip and I think it will all depend on the weather. 'On good to soft ground I think she is amongst the very best, but on quicker ground she is not, so it will just be a case of playing it by ear. 'She could go to France and she could go anywhere. It is not a question of level, it is just finding her preferred conditions. 'She would need rain to go to Royal Ascot and if we don't go there we could go to the Pretty Polly the following week, so there are plenty of races and no stress and all options are open.' Also waiting for the rain to arrive is the well-regarded Janey Mackers, who was seen as a Classic contender earlier in the year, but after an underwhelming effort at Newmarket could next be seen competing in the Listed Agnes Keyser Fillies' Stakes at Goodwood on Sunday. 'We need to go grade by grade with her and she is suffering a bit from the dry weather at the moment,' continued Menuisier. 'Newmarket was definitely too quick and I won't run her on that ground again. I'll take my time and the next option is Goodwood, weather depending.'
Daily Mirror
16-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Bargain buy Tamfana giving ‘people from all walks of life' a taste of big time
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.'
