Well-bred colt Tagaloa proved his class with an upset win over the favourite Hanseatic in the 2020 Blue Diamond Stakes results at Caulfield on Saturday.

Tagaloa scored a massive upset in the 2020 Blue Diamond Stakes results as a $26 outsider in betting. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Prepared by the Victorian-based Kiwi duo of Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young, Tagaloa went into the 50^th edition of the Group 1 $1.5 million Neds Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) as a $26 roughie but won like an odds-on favourite.

A son of champion Japanese sire Lord Kanaloa, Tagaloa came off a last start fourth when one and a half lengths beaten by Hanseatic in the Group 3 BD Prelude (1100m) a fortnight ago.

The Prelude form proved the one to follow into the big one with the fourth placegetter able to turn the tables and become the first Blue Diamond Stakes winner to improve on a place in the Prelude since Pride Of Dubai (2^nd in 2015).

Pride Of Dubai was also the only other previous Blue Diamond winner in the past decade to come off a non-winning lead-up, while Tagaloa became just the second in over 10 years to win at double-figures along with Star Witness ($10 in 2010).

Jumping from barrier four, Tagaloa was ridden to victory by Michael Walker who had the horse settled three deep in third as the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained filly A Beautiful Night led the field around going hard up front.

The James Cummings-trained Hanseatic ($2.60) was clean out the gates and settled about seventh the rails, those on the speed setting a hot pace and making them chase.

A Beautiful Night led into the straight, while jockey Tim Clark came off the fence on Hanseatic giving his mount every possible chance.

Both Hanseatic and Tagaloa shifted ground noticeably on the straight with the latter hitting the front over the final furlong.

The favourite was coming for the roughie trying to wear him down, but in the end Tagaloa proved too tough holding for a long neck win.

“He’s a classy colt this horse,” Walker said after the win.

“Nat and Trent had this horse spot on.

“He’s a top-class colt and he’s only going to get better with age.

“How good!”

Adding further value to the Blue Diamond Stakes trifecta was the eye-catching third by another $26 outsider, the Lindsay Park-trained Fastnet Rock filly Personal.

The Magic Millions Classic winning filly Away Game rounded out the first four in a big run that saw her firm from $21 to $14 in all-in Golden Slipper betting at Ladbrokes.com.au.

The world’s richest race for juveniles, the $3.5 million Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on March 21 could potentially be on the cards for Tagaloa after his Diamond success.

“I can’t believe it,” co-trainer Young said.

“This was always the target for this horse.

“To win a Group 1 with a two-year-old is just unbelievable.”

Busuttin was also over the moon with the result.

“It’s the right Group 1 to win,” he said.

“He did it the tough way, three deep the whole way.

“Very exciting. Big pay day!

“It’s a flagship race.”

Tagaloa has been slashed from $13 to $12 in the latest Golden Slipper odds.

Last year’s Blue Diamond Stakes winning filly Lyre went on to run third to Kiamichi in last year’s Golden Slipper results, while Sepoy (2011) was the last horse to complete the double.

Click here for the updated Golden Slipper Stakes 2020 betting markets courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2020 Blue Diamond Stakes Results