Tarascon (horse)

Tarascon
Sire	Tirol
Grandsire	Thatching
Dam	Breyani
Damsire	Commanche Run
Sex	Mare
Foaled	12 February 1995
Country	Ireland
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Barronstown Stud, Ron Con Ltd and Mrs T Stack
Owner	Jane Rowlinson
Trainer	Tommy Stack
Record	9:3-0-1
Earnings	£167,107
Major wins
Moyglare Stud Stakes (1997) Irish 1,000 Guineas (1998)

Tarascon (foaled 12 February 1995) was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old in 1997 she was one of the leading fillies of her generation in Ireland winning two of her four races including the Moyglare Stud Stakes. In the following season she became rather temperamental and ran poorly in the 1000 Guineas and the Oaks Stakes, but produced her best form to win the Irish 1000 Guineas. She retired after winning three of her nine races and had some success as a broodmare.

Tarascon was a bay mare bred in Ireland by Barronstown Stud, Ron Con Ltd and Mrs T Stack. She was one of the best horses sired by Tirol, an Irish-bred, British-trained stallion who won the 2000 Guineas and the Irish 2000 Guineas in 1990. Her dam Breyani, won three minor races and also produced Mister Monet, whose wins included the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano and the Rose of Lancaster Stakes. Throughout her racing career, Tarascon was owned by Jane Rowlinson and trained at Golden, County Tipperary by Tommy Stack.

As a two-year-old, Tarascon was ridden in all of her races by Pat Smullen. She made her racecourse debut in a six furlong maiden race at the Curragh on 13 July when she finished third of the eight runners, making good progress in the closing stages. Thirteen days later she reappeared in a race over seven furlongs at the same course and started 4/1 second favourite in a field of eight. She moved up on the outside with a quarter of a mile left to run and won by half a length from the favourite Saratoga Springs a colt trained by Aidan O'Brien. Tarascon was then moved up sharply in class for the Group One Phoenix Stakes over six furlongs at Leopardstown Racecourse in which she was again matched against colts. She tracked the leaders but was unable to make any significant progress in the closing stages and finished fifth behind the British-trained colt Princely Heir. On 7 September, the filly returned to competing against her own sex in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh. Smullen ettled the filly behind the leaders before moving up into second place with a quarter of a mile left to run. In the final strides she overtook the leader Heed My Warning and won by a head at odds of 7/1, with the future Epsom Oaks winner Shahtoush in third. Tarascon did not race again in 1997, but the value of her form was boosted when Saratoga Springs won the Group One Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster Racecourse in October.

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