No Tan Tat ready for first city test
Not being able to sell No Tan Tat is now looking like a blessing in disguise for trainer Greg Eurell and the breeder of the lightly raced three-year-old filly.
No Tan Tat makes her city debut at Caulfield on Saturday after breaking her maiden with an all-the-way win at her third start at Geelong last month after finishing second in her first two starts.
Eurell believes the filly can take another step in Saturday’s Margot McCluskey Handicap (1400m) after her impressive maiden win.
Eurell said when a couple of prospective buyers for the filly dropped out, he and her breeder, Neville Murdoch of Larneuk Stud, decided to race her themselves.
“Larneuk Stud bred her and sent her down. We actually had some people that were interested in buying her and in the end they declined,” Eurell said.
“So we had her in work for a bit longer and Neville said ‘just keep working her along’.
“We had another interested party in her and they declined and then in the end Neville just said if we can’t get anyone to buy this filly, we’ll race her between us.
“And that’s how it ended up. So Neville and myself have got 50-50.”
Eurell is happy with how it has worked out so far.
“It doesn’t often turn out like that but we’re both pretty happy. We’re smiling now,” he said.
“I don’t think we’d have any worries, especially if she could win tomorrow, I think we’d be able to sell her easily enough but I don’t think that will be happening now.”
No Tan Tat is a daughter of O’Lonhro out of Tan Tat Elle who is a half-sister to Hong Kong Group One winner Sun Jewellery.
No Tan Tat broke her maiden with a 2-1/2 length win at Geelong on December 15 and is challenging for favouritism for Saturday’s benchmark-70 for fillies.
“I thought it was a good strong win which I think leads us into this race perfectly,” Eurell said.
“It’s a nice stepping stone, stepping out of maiden class.”
Eurell will use Saturday’s race as a guide to future plans for No Tan Tat.
“We’ve got to have a look and see what she shows us tomorrow and then go from there,” Eurell said.
“I think she’s a pretty genuine filly and I like what she’s done so far.
“So if she gets up tomorrow, or runs a terrific race, it’s not going to surprise me one bit.”