Mount Tahan Breaks New Ground

For a long time Wetherby has been one of the best race courses in the country, the only difference now is that the home of jumping hosted it’s first ever flat meeting. After some Northern trainers took part in trials last year, which were a resounding success, the decision was made to host a number of flat fixtures. The entries alone showed the support that the trainers were willing show the track and the whole day was a big success with plenty of supporters turning out on a glorious spring Sunday.

Kevin was keen to support and sent 4 runners down the A1 for the short journey and it proved to be a good move with Mount Tahan recording his first career victory. The 3 year old son of Lope De Vega had long been showing plenty of potential and his 2 year old season consisted of a very good run in the Convivial Maiden at York before finishing third at Redcar. He had shown enough in those races to please connections as it was all about this year for the raw Mount Tahan. The winter had certainly been good for him, allowing him to fill his large frame and mature into a lovely horse.

Paul Mulrennan had ridden Mount Tahan at Redcar and once again was asked to don the orange and blue silks of owner Mr Rahman. With such a well balanced and long striding horse the plan was to keep it simple and that is exactly what Paul did from the outset. Breaking well, Mount Tahan quickly ushered along and took the lead with Paul making a bee line for the rail. Whether the urges had stirred him up or it was freshness but the early gallop was quite strong as Tahan headed the twelve runners. The well backed favourite tracked his every move and was never far away but the rest of the runners were soon becoming stretched. Paul allowed his mount to stride on and with a stride of Mount Tahan’s length this was causing a real test. The new track at Wetherby was always on the turn but unlike somewhere such as Chester it is a very easy swwoping bend rather than the tight, sharp bends. By the halfway point of the 7f maiden the field was completely separated and the distance between the runners was growing as Mount Tahan poured it on. With 3f to run Paul asked him to lengthen, allowing plenty of time to wind Tahan up into full speed. The favourite went with him and soon loomed up alongside. It looked as though the two market leaders were set for a battle as they came into the 2f marker an hit the rising ground. This wasn’t the case as with everything urging from Paul, Tahan responded and drew clear. The gap grew from a length to a couple then three. The favourite weakened whilst Tahan drew further and further clear. There was only daylight now in second and Mount Tahan strode to an impressive 4 1/2 length win.

Mount Tahan has always been a horse that Kevin has liked and he certainly looks like a 3 year old to go places. This year was always going to be the year to judge him on and he definitely got it off to a great start. Obviously now Kevin will have to wait and see what the handicapper does before making any plans but he has another exciting prospect. Mount Tahan will continue to improve throughout the year and will definitely feature in the better 3 yr old handicaps over 7f and a mile.