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Tigertiger tale continues to grow with Bagot win

1 January 2022 Written by Racing.com

It might not quite match the rags-to-riches story of Incentivise but the Tigertiger tale continued to grow after the former Kiwi ran away with his first stakes victory in Saturday’s Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m) at Flemington.

Tigertiger was a maiden when he made Victoria his home last year but after winning his first race in October for new trainer Rob Blacker, the horse has put together another four victories to join the highly talented Mr Brightside as the only horse to win five races in Victoria so far this season.

After coming to Australia with prizemoney of under $4000, Tigertiger has won five and been placed in his other five starts to boost his earnings to $240,000.

He was well supported to win on Saturday, firming in from an opening quote of around $20 earlier in the week to start at $10. After joining in inside the final 400 metres, Tigertiger had a neck margin over Skelm with two and a quarter lengths to Long Arm in third place.

Successful rider Daniel Moor later said the race worked out well for him.

"It was lovely. Probably the first furlong he really chimed into it like he does but once he gets cover he switches off and he rested the best in the race.

"I was ultra, ultra patient on him just to make sure he’d run it right out and I thought I might have got there a bit soon but because he had fresh legs and had done no work in the run, he was strong to the line."

Blacker said he thought the horse would get over more ground being by Zed but said he would ease off the gelding over the next few weeks after a most busy time over the spring and summer.

"I’ll give him a break," Blacker said. "I was always heading towards the Adelaide Cup but now I’m sort of thinking...I’ll watch the replay and have a talk to Daniel, see what I think.

"He’ll have a little breather - whether that’s a month or two or three weeks and I head to Adelaide or not , I’ll work it out."

Blacker gained the horse from his owner/breeder Ian Shaw after convincing him he could win some races in Australia where the stakes are much stronger.

It was a tough watch for favourite punters as favourite Smokin’ Romans was one of the first horses under pressure after leading into the home straight before fading to finish second last, some 21 lengths from the winner.