Mahuta among Weir’s 5 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes nominations

Last Saturday’s Memsie Stakes placegetter Mahuta is one of five horses premiership winning trainer Darren Weir has nominated for the Group 2 $300,000 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Mahuta, above, is one of five Darren Weir trained horses nominated for the Dato' Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Mahuta, above, is one of five Darren Weir trained horses nominated for the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Mahuta raced in the first three in a strung out field and battled on to finish third, three and a half lengths behind the winner and stalemate Black Heart Bart, in the Group 1 $350,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

Jockey John Allen was happy with the effort of Mahuta and conceded that the first two placegetters were too good on the day with the Lindsay Park trained Rising Romance passing him in the straight to claim second prize.

“I had to force a run at the 300 (metres) and it probably cost me a length. I thought it was a really good effort. The first two were just too good for him,” Allen said.

Weir was happy with the way Mahuta has pulled up and the four year old is set to back up this week in the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes along with Real Love, Royal Rapture, Signoff and Tosen Stardom.

“He (Mahuta) was very fit and wound up there for Saturday. That’s about him, he ran really well, he is Group 1 placed now,” Weir said.

“He will probably back up in the Dato on Saturday and then three weeks to the Rupert Clarke.”

“Tosen Stardom will go around in the Dato as will Real Love. Signoff will run as well.

“They all have to have a gallop tomorrow and providing they all gallop well they will all head there.”

Australian Derby winner Tavago was a scratching from the Memsie Stakes after knocking a tooth out on Friday and is a chance to kick off his Melbourne Spring Carnival this week in the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes.

Co-trainer Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young gave Tavago a 1000m jumpout at Cranbourne this morning and said the four year old was ready to resume this weekend if he pleased the stable for the rest of the week.

“Ben Melham gave him a squeeze at the top of the straight and he came up underneath him nicely and did what was asked of him,” Busuttin told racing.com.

“We may have been over cautious (missing the Memsie) but it’s the start of a long campaign and he was sulking a bit after having the tooth on Friday but he’s come through it good and it’s not an issue.”

“We’ll probably accept at the Valley on Saturday but more then likely stick to our original plan of running him in the Makybe Diva.”

The weight for age Group 1 $350,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) will be run at Flemington on Saturday week.

The Danny O’Brien trained Miss Rose De Lago, the winner of the Group 2 $200,000 Back To Caulfield P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 16, is also among the sixteen nominations for the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes.

Caulfield trainer Ciraon Maher has nominated his two Crown Oaks winner, Jameka (2015) and Set Square (2014) and both mares will be having their second run back after finishing fourth and ninth respectively in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes.

Group 1 winners The United States and Sauvito as well as the front running The Cleaner are also among the nominations for the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes.

Early market order for the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $5 Tosen Stardom, $5.50 The United States, $6 Jameka, $7 Mahuta, $7.50 Miss Rose De Lago, $9 Sauvito, $13 The Cleaner, $17 Excess Knowledge, Tavago, $21 Awesome Rock, Entirely Platinum, Jacquinot Bay, Real Love, Set Square, $34 Royal Rapture, Signoff.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.