Dubai: Dual Classic winner Taghrooda has been hailed as an ‘absolute star’ following her anticipated retirement to stud.
The daughter of Sea The Stars will now take up broodmare duties for owner-breeder Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, early next year.
A stunning winner of the Epsom Oaks (G1) in early June and the King George (G1), Taghrooda ran her last race when finishing a game third behind Treve in the Prix de l’Arc d’Triomphe (G1) at Longchamp last Sunday.
Angus Gold, Shaikh Hamdan’s racing manager, said: “The Arc was always going to be her last run and that has now been confirmed.
“She’s been an absolute star for us. In all my time, the only other filly we’ve had of that class is Salsabil, which shows you how rare they are.
“She [Taghrooda] is blessed with so many things. She has more speed than I expected from her pedigree. She is bred to stay, but I was surprised with how much speed she has, but I suppose that comes down to her class and quality.
“She also has the most incredible temperament and I think that is probably the best thing of all about her.
“She has been a joy to work with and [trainer] John [Gosden] and his team have done a fantastic job with her all year.
Jockey Paul Hanagan, who rode her when she become the first filly to win the King George in more than 30 years, was full of praise for the three-year-old, who won four of her six starts.
“I owe her a lot. She’s done wonders for my career,” he told At The Races. “She was a very tough filly. She stayed well, but she did have a turn of foot.
“The main thing was her temperament. She was an absolute joy to ride, she made my job very easy. She’s done us proud.”
Mukhadram, the Dubai World Cup (G1) runner-up who went on capture the Coral Eclipse Stakes (G1) at Sandown, has also been retired following his fourth-placed effort in the Irish Champion Stakes last month.
The five-year-old son of Shamardal will begin his stallion career at Nunnery Stud in Norfolk next year. The stud acts as a base for Shadwell’s British and European racing and breeding activities.
