Tazaral chasing black-type breakthrough at Eagle Farm

Superbly related import Tazaral will bid to become the latest member of his family to win a stakes race when he heads to Eagle Farm for the Listed Bernborough Plate.

The son of Fastnet Rock is a half-brother to two overseas Group 1 winners in Tahiyra and Tarnawa, and while he might not reach their heights, he is a promising horse in his own right.

A dual Sydney Saturday metropolitan winner during the winter, Tazaral finished runner-up to subsequent Metropolitan hero Just Fine during an early spring cameo and co-trainer Paul Snowden said only bad barrier draws and big fields had prevented the horse tackling better company until now.

“We missed out on a couple of races like The Gong, but he wouldn’t have run anyway because it was too wet. He likes it on top of the ground,” Snowden said.

“He’s that black-type level and we get a chance on the weekend.”

A field of 11 will line up in the Bernborough Plate (1600m) on Saturday with Tazaral drawing barrier nine.

Snowden is hoping for a solid tempo to give the backmarker his best chance to finish off and says Brisbane metropolitan races can often produce that scenario, especially at Eagle Farm.

“He’s a horse that relies on a little bit of tempo and you generally get that recipe up there,” he said.

“It’s a big track and they (Queensland trainers) can’t rap it enough, the grass coverage and how it races these days, so we’re not afraid to take a horse up there.

“His form is very good. I’d be surprised if he’s not close to favourite.”

Early favouritism honours go to another NSW-trained galloper in Acquitted, who kicked off his Brisbane summer stint with a last start win in the Listed Tails Stakes (1600m) at Doomben.

Acquitted is at $2.30 with Tazaral a $4.40 second pick.