Tagalie
Encyclopedia
Tagalie was British Thoroughbred
racehorse. She was one of only six fillies to win the Epsom Derby
, and was also the second of only four greys to have won the race. She achieved this feat as a three-year-old in 1912, a year in which she had already won the 1000 Guineas. Although her Derby win was easy and impressive, she failed to reproduce her winning form in her three subsequent races.
winner, who went on to become a highly successful stallion. In addition to Tagalie, he sired three other winners of the Epsom Derby
and through his grandson, Phalaris, he is the direct male-line ancestor of most modern thoroughbreds. Her dam was the French-bred mare Tagale, from whom she inherited her grey coat. In addition to Tagalie, Tagale also produced the Gimcrack Stakes
winner Blankney II.
Raphael sent the filly to his private trainer Matthew Dawson Waugh at his Somerville Lodge Stable at Newmarket, Suffolk.
for the Cheveley Park Stakes
, the most important race of the season for British two-year-old fillies, in which she finished third to Belleisle. On her third and final start of the season she ran unplaced in a race at Sandown.
jockey Les Hewitt she led from the start and won by one and a half lengths from Alope, with Belleisle third. Her winning time of 1:39.6 was the second fastest recorded up to that time. In the Newmarket Stakes on May 15 she proved herself capable of racing against colts when overcoming interference to finish an unlucky second to Cylgad.
As Hewitt was already to committed to ride another horse in the Derby, Tagalie was ridden at Epsom
on June 5 by the American Johnny Reiff. She started at odds of 100/8 in a field of twenty, in front of a large crowd which included the King and Queen
. As at Newmarket, she led from the start, opened up a clear lead and was never in any danger. Reiff was even able to give the filly a "breather" just after half way before sending her clear again and winning "in a canter" by four lengths from Jaeger and Tracery. Two days later she started a "red-hot favourite" at odds of 1/2 for the Oaks
, despite rumours that she would miss the race. On this occasion she was held up in the early stages by her new rider George Stern but took up the lead at half way and appeared to be going well. In the straight however, she appeared to tire badly and finished seventh behind Mirska. The only explanation offered was that she was unsuited by the state of the ground which had been softened by heavy rain since the Derby.
Tagalie never recaptured her Derby-winning form. Her meeting with the Ascot Gold Cup
winner Prince Palatine
in the Eclipse Stakes
at Sandown on July 19 was anticipated as the potential "race of the season", but the filly ran poorly and was unplaced. One again, there were some attempts to excuse her performance by claiming that she was unsuited by the soft ground, although another view was that her lack of stamina, which had not been truly tested in the Derby, had now been exposed. In an attempt to redeem her reputation and win an unconventional Triple Crown, Tagalie was sent to Doncaster
in September for the St. Leger Stakes
, but made no impression in finishing unplaced behind Tracery. She was then retired to stud, having earned £11,200 in her three-year-old season.
, who finished second in the 2000 Guineas and won the Newmarket Stakes in 1920. Tagalie died after giving birth in the same year.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse. She was one of only six fillies to win the Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
, and was also the second of only four greys to have won the race. She achieved this feat as a three-year-old in 1912, a year in which she had already won the 1000 Guineas. Although her Derby win was easy and impressive, she failed to reproduce her winning form in her three subsequent races.
Background
Tagalie was a small, lightly-framed grey filly ("more like a greyhound then a racehorse"), bred by her owner, the financier Walter Raphael. She was sired by Cyllene, an Ascot Gold CupAscot Gold Cup
The Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
winner, who went on to become a highly successful stallion. In addition to Tagalie, he sired three other winners of the Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
and through his grandson, Phalaris, he is the direct male-line ancestor of most modern thoroughbreds. Her dam was the French-bred mare Tagale, from whom she inherited her grey coat. In addition to Tagalie, Tagale also produced the Gimcrack Stakes
Gimcrack Stakes
The Gimcrack Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at York over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
winner Blankney II.
Raphael sent the filly to his private trainer Matthew Dawson Waugh at his Somerville Lodge Stable at Newmarket, Suffolk.
1911: two-year-old season
Tagalie showed some promise as a juvenile in 1911, despite not appearing on a racecourse until October. She won the Boscawen Post Stakes and was then sent to NewmarketNewmarket Racecourse
The town of Newmarket, in Suffolk, England, is the headquarters of British horseracing, home to the largest cluster of training yards in the country and many key horse racing organisations. Newmarket Racecourse has two courses - the Rowley Mile Course and the July Course. Both are wide, galloping...
for the Cheveley Park Stakes
Cheveley Park Stakes
The Cheveley Park Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.The event was...
, the most important race of the season for British two-year-old fillies, in which she finished third to Belleisle. On her third and final start of the season she ran unplaced in a race at Sandown.
1912: three-year-old season
On her three-year-old debut, Tagalie was sent straight for the 1000 Guineas on May 3 for which she started a 20/1 outsider. Ridden by the New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
jockey Les Hewitt she led from the start and won by one and a half lengths from Alope, with Belleisle third. Her winning time of 1:39.6 was the second fastest recorded up to that time. In the Newmarket Stakes on May 15 she proved herself capable of racing against colts when overcoming interference to finish an unlucky second to Cylgad.
As Hewitt was already to committed to ride another horse in the Derby, Tagalie was ridden at Epsom
Epsom Downs Racecourse
Epsom Downs is a Grade 1 racecourse near Epsom, Surrey, England. The "downs" referred to in the name are part of the North Downs. The course is best known for hosting the Epsom Derby, the United Kingdom's premier thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old colts and fillies, over a mile and a half...
on June 5 by the American Johnny Reiff. She started at odds of 100/8 in a field of twenty, in front of a large crowd which included the King and Queen
Mary of Teck
Mary of Teck was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, as the wife of King-Emperor George V....
. As at Newmarket, she led from the start, opened up a clear lead and was never in any danger. Reiff was even able to give the filly a "breather" just after half way before sending her clear again and winning "in a canter" by four lengths from Jaeger and Tracery. Two days later she started a "red-hot favourite" at odds of 1/2 for the Oaks
Epsom Oaks
The Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early June....
, despite rumours that she would miss the race. On this occasion she was held up in the early stages by her new rider George Stern but took up the lead at half way and appeared to be going well. In the straight however, she appeared to tire badly and finished seventh behind Mirska. The only explanation offered was that she was unsuited by the state of the ground which had been softened by heavy rain since the Derby.
Tagalie never recaptured her Derby-winning form. Her meeting with the Ascot Gold Cup
Ascot Gold Cup
The Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
winner Prince Palatine
Prince Palatine
Prince Palatine was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He was named for County Palatine of Lancaster near where his breeder William Hall Walker had been raised....
in the Eclipse Stakes
Eclipse Stakes
The Eclipse Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 7 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early July.-History:The event is named after Eclipse, a...
at Sandown on July 19 was anticipated as the potential "race of the season", but the filly ran poorly and was unplaced. One again, there were some attempts to excuse her performance by claiming that she was unsuited by the soft ground, although another view was that her lack of stamina, which had not been truly tested in the Derby, had now been exposed. In an attempt to redeem her reputation and win an unconventional Triple Crown, Tagalie was sent to Doncaster
Doncaster Racecourse
Doncaster Racecourse is a racecourse in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. It hosts two of Great Britain's 31 Group 1 flat races, the St Leger Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy.- History :...
in September for the St. Leger Stakes
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
, but made no impression in finishing unplaced behind Tracery. She was then retired to stud, having earned £11,200 in her three-year-old season.
Assessment
In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Tagalie the thirty-sixth best British filly or mare of the 20th Century .Stud career
Tagalie produced only four foals, but they included Allenby, by BayardoBayardo (horse)
Bayardo was a British bred Thoroughbred racehorse with an impressive record, both on the racecourse and at stud, where he was a leading sire.-Pedigree:...
, who finished second in the 2000 Guineas and won the Newmarket Stakes in 1920. Tagalie died after giving birth in the same year.
Pedigree
- Tagalie was inbredInbreedingInbreeding is the reproduction from the mating of two genetically related parents. Inbreeding results in increased homozygosity, which can increase the chances of offspring being affected by recessive or deleterious traits. This generally leads to a decreased fitness of a population, which is...
3x4 to Isonomy. This means that the stallion appears in both the third and fourth generations of her pedigree.