Bargain buy Tamfana is setting the racing world abuzz, racing into Saturday’s £500,000 Boylesports Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. This captivating filly, initially bought for a mere £16,000 by the Quantum Leap Racing syndicate, has already returned her savvy owners with more than £500,000 in earnings. And she’s not just a cash cow; Tamfana is a passport to the upper echelons of horse racing for her diverse ownership group, presenting ‘people from all walks of life’ a taste of the high-stakes racing scene.
Big Dreams from Modest Beginnings
Tamfana’s story started with a smart buy made by Jeremy Brummitt, a bloodstock agent with an uncanny eye for potential. This filly was plucked out of a German sale that Quantum Leap frequents each year. Though modest in price, she was full of promise, and that promise has been realized. Tamfana’s victories and placings at Newmarket for the 1,000 Guineas, at Chantilly for the French Oaks, and on British Champions Day at Ascot for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes demonstrate her mettle.
A Journey with Quantum Leap Racing
Owned by a group that includes publicans, barristers, construction workers, teachers, and IT professionals, Tamfana represents more than just a racehorse. As Eamonn O’Connor, the founder and chairman of Quantum Leap Racing, puts it, “It’s great to see a syndicate having a runner in a race like this.” The diverse band of owners thrives on the exhilaration and camaraderie that come with horse racing. Around 24 people, along with their partners, have the pleasure of watching her blaze down the track.
Racing Strategy and Philosophy
Quantum Leap Racing is an ambitious syndicate. They focus not on short-term gains but on long-term success, eyeing horses with the potential to perform at Group 1 levels or, at a minimum, in prestige handicaps. The syndicate isn’t interested in low-grade races. Instead, they seek horses that can be sold to overseas buyers, replenishing their funds to invest in their next champion.
This philosophy has been proven, not least by horses like Ottilien and Rodrigo Diaz, who have both extended their journeys beyond the UK. Ottilien was sold for a considerable sum after a successful career, while Rodrigo Diaz’s exploits took him as far afield as Dubai and Australia.
What Lies Ahead for Tamfana?
During her four-year-old campaign under the careful guidance of trainer David Menuisier, Tamfana began with a commendable second-place finish at Sandown. As she gears up for the Lockinge Stakes, the excitement among her owners is palpable. O’Connor expresses no small measure of optimism: “We are going there with a degree of confidence.” The owners are hopeful for another exhilarating performance, likely ensuring more high-stakes races in her future.
Whether she brings home the prize at the Lockinge or not, Tamfana’s presence on the track encapsulates the victory of dreams born from the simplest origins, aspirations nurtured by many, all cheering her name as she races towards glory.
