This looked a far from a vintage edition of the Group III Precise Air Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill, which boasts a remarkable roll call of winners, however the bold-striding Tapit gelding Love Tap looks an untapped talent after keeping his record at a perfect four for four.
Seasoned with wins in a maiden at Nowra and two romps at Goulburn, the Richard and Michael Freedman-trained grey controlled the race from the front under Nash Rawiller to defeat the Pride Of Dubai colt Street Dancer by one and three-quarter lengths with the royally-bred Deep Impact x Miss Finland colt Bucharest a short-head back in third.
Love Tap is favoured to keep his record intact in the $500,000 Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on September 10.
“I didn’t expect Nash to lead. I said to Nash don’t let the leaders get too far away. He took that a bit literally,” Richard Freedman said.
“I was happy to see him out there. They would have to run some good sectionals to run over him.
“He only does what he has to. He is a pretty relaxed track worker and a pretty relaxed horse generally.”
Purchased by Dynamic Syndications/Dean Watt B/stock (FBAA) for $110,000 out of the Coolmore draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Love Tap was foaled and raised at Coolmore and is one of five winners from as many to race out of the Forestry mare Smokey’s Love.
After two disappointments with Triple Crown hero American Pharoah (USA), Smokey’s Love headed back to the US in February after her worth increased many fold when her daughter Fighting Mad (New Year’s Day) added the Grade 1 Clement L Hirsch Stakes to her wins in the Grade II Santa Maria stakes and Grade III Torrey Pines Stakes.
Fighting Mad is a homebred for Gary and Mary West who also bred Love Tap to a southern hemisphere covering by the multiple champion sire Tapit.
Smokey’s Love comes from the family of 2005 Florida Derby winner High Fly and multiple Group III winner Estimraar.
Love Tap becomes the 136th stakes-winner for Tapit (Pulpit).
