Tamfana spoiled the Inspiral retirement party when making a triumphant return to the Rowley Mile exactly five months to the day since her unfortunate defeat in the One Thousand Guineas (G1).
The younger brigade had held sway in two of the last three runnings of the Sun Chariot Stakes (G1) and Colin Keane took no prisoners on the well-backed 2-1 favorite from the start. Keane, who was riding David Menuisier's hope in place of Oisin Murphy who was required for See The Fire, had the race in safe keeping entering the Dip and was always holding last year's winner Inspiral, who did herself no favors with another slow start.
Tamfana had excuses on her last start at the track when a fast-finishing fourth to Elmalka in the One Thousand Guineas but made no mistake this time, scoring by two lengths with See The Fire a length away back in third.
Menuisier said: "This is a big sense of achievement when you feel you've missed out. I'm delighted for myself, the owners, and also for the horse. Colin kept it simple on her and for once everything went right. It's great for racing that a small syndicate like Quantum Leap Racing can win against the big operations with a filly that cost little money."
Tamfana triumphs in the @VirginBet Sun Chariot Stakes!
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 5, 2024
The three-year-old gets her deserved Group 1 breakthrough under @ctkjockey on a red-letter day for @DavidMenuisier 👏 @NewmarketRace pic.twitter.com/K60VbHTquP
Five-time Irish champion Keane, who was riding his first group 1 winner in Britain, said: "She's a lovely filly, very straightforward, and you can put her where you want. She made my job very easy It's great to get a spare ride like this. I got the call only on Thursday morning and it's my first ride for David and he looks to have a great bunch of owners."
He added: "I can understand why she's been stepped up in trip in the past but we didn't go overly mad. I'd say if it was a true-run mile you would see a better filly again. She pinged the gates and we rode forward. I wasn't sure what was coming from behind but my filly quickened away well."
Around 20 of Quantum Leap Racing syndicate were present and representative Eamonn O'Connor said: "This is out first group 1 winner, which is fantastic. We buy five yearlings a year and aim to have horses at this sort of level. We're not interested in keeping horses for the sake of it and myself and Jeremy Brummitt (buyer of Tamfana) agreed that on day one which was seven years ago. To have a group 1 winner in that time is pretty tremendous."
He added: "We've been patient with her all year. She's very good over a mile and probably stays further. We'll let David make the call regarding the rest of the year but we're already looking forward to next year as she stays in training."
Inspiral lost nothing in defeat and Chris Richardson, racing manager to owners Cheveley Park Stud, said: "She's run a blinder. The ground wasn't to her liking and she looked like she was coming to threaten but the winner quickened away. It didn't help her missing the break again and on that tacky ground she can't pick up like she can on good to firm. We're delighted with the run, she owes us nothing and she goes out on a high."
As regards mating plans, he added: "Dubawi must come under consideration so we'll take her home now and hopefully she can have an equally fruitful career as a broodmare as she has had as a racehorse."
