Former Blue Diamond champion Tagaloa was back in winning form for his new connections running the ideal 2021 Australian Guineas trial with a commanding victory in Saturday’s Group 3 $160,000 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.

As a two-year-old the Lord Kanaloa colt enjoyed elite level success in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at blowout odds, but despite a number of subsequent solid runs, he hadn’t been able to post another win.

That changed on Black Caviar Lightning Day, the now three-year-old relishing getting up to 1400m at HQ fit second-up off his third in the Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on January 30.

Looking far suited to the course at Flemington than Caulfield, the Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young-trained Tagaloa gave weight to his rivals carrying the penalty in the CS Hayes Stakes, but was too good late with a strong victory thanks to a peach of a ride by Luke Currie.

The last horse off the bit into stride, Tagaloa was positive out of the gates from the inside alley and settled well on the inside of runaway leader Here To Shock.

There was a good speed on in the race and Currie was happy to let his mount trail before making his move on the home straight.

At the 300m it was the Caulfield Guineas runner-up Aysar presenting as the danger out wide on the track taking up the lead briefly before Tagaloa responded.

The eventual winner gave a beautiful kick, pinned back his ears and charged home well clear of Lindsay Park’s Deep Field colt who ran second for the fourth time on the trot after a second in the Manfred Stakes first-up.

In third to round out the CS Hayes Stakes trifecta was Mo’unga, the returning Savabeel colt eye-catching fresh with the flying Jamie Kah aboard.

Moonee Valley Vase winner Cherry Tortoni meanwhile was far from disgraced crossing fourth having settled well back and making up all the late ground.

Co-trainer Natalie Young was thrilled with the performance by their CS Hayes Stakes winner who is tracking perfectly towards the Group 1 $1 million Australian Guineas (1600m) back at Flemington on February 27.

“Tags is back, thank god, what a relief. It’s absolutely fantastic,” she told Thoroughbred Central post-win.

“He dominated that today, Luke gave him a peach of a ride and it worked out perfectly.

“In a couple of weeks’ time, he’s going to meet them (his rivals) two kilos better at the set weights.

“He’s got that Group 3 win as a three-year-old now.

The CS Hayes – Australian Guineas double has recently been completed by Wandjina (2015), Hey Doc (2017), Grunt (2018) and of course Alligator Blood (2020) last year.

Tagaloa was at $17 in all-in 2021 Australian Guineas betting before the CS Hayes Stakes results and has subsequently firmed into $9 through Ladbrokes.com.au just ahead of Saturday’s The Vanity winning filly Zou Dancer ($10).

Click here for the full futures Australian Guineas odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2021 CS Hayes Stakes Results

Table Credit: Racing Australia.