A close-up fifth behind subsequent Group 1 Epsom Hcp winner Rediener in the Group III Bill Ritchie HHcp at Randwick proved good enough form for Godolphin's Golden Horn gelding Tamerlane to open his stakes account in Saturday's Listed Wold Pool Paris Lane Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
Ridden by Damian Lane for James Cummings, Tamerlane went coast to coast in defeating Just Folk (Magnus) by one and three-quarter lengths, with Umgawa (Shamus Award) a length and a quarter back in third.
The 6yo gelding advances his record to eight wins, five seconds, and four thirds from 29 starts with earnings of $704,415.
Tamerlane was imported in-utero with his dam Wordcraft (GB) in 2017.
A daughter of the champion stallion Shamardal (USA), Wordcraft (GB) is the first foal of Forensics, winner of the Group 1 STC Golden Slipper Stakes, Group 1 STC Queen of the Turf Stakes, and Group 1 VRC Myer Classic.
Darley sent the daughter of Flying Spur to Europe, intending to race her there, but she failed to acclimatise. Wordcraft (GB) was her first foal, and she was talented.
In a career restricted to seven starts at three, Wordcraft (GB) won her first two starts at Newmarket and Kempton, second three times at Newmarket (x2) and Salisbury, and was third at Newmarket. Her only failure came at her final start.
A $900,000 purchase by Woodlands Stud at the 2006 Easter Yearling Sale, Forensics was inherited by Darley when Sheikh Mohammed paid a reported $500 million for the Ingham family's racing and breeding empire in 2008.
Forensics was repatriated in 2014.
Wordcraft (GB) has a 2-year-old Lonhro colt named Polyglot and a yearling colt by Harry Angel (IRE). She was not covered last spring.
Tamerlane is the 25th black-type winner for the Epsom Derby hero Golden Horn (Cape Cross).
