Sad passing of champion mare
ONE of the greatest mare's produced in Australasia has passed away.
A champion juvenile to a successful Grand Circuit performer, Tailamade Lombo lived to a ripe age of 30.
Alabar Farms made the disappointing anouncement this afternoon stating “We are deeply saddened by the passing of the great Tailamade Lombo at the age of 30. A true champion on the track, she captured hearts with her brilliance, speed, and determination, etching her name into harness racing history.
“Alabar was privileged to care for her in her later years, and it has been an honor to give back to a mare who gave so much to the sport. She has now been laid to rest in the Alabar cemetery, among many of the illustrious stallions who shaped the industry.”
Beginning her career under the care of West Australian horseman Tinny Tindale, Tailamade Lombo finished third in Pinjarra upon debut before breaking her maiden at her seventh outing in a heat of the Ausdrill Classic.
Winning the $75,000 Final on February 10, 1997, Tailamade Lombo was then transferred to Victorian duo Jayne Davies and Noel Alexander.
Registering five wins from another seven starts, Tailamade Lombo's triumphs include the Australian Pacing Gold Final.
It was the following season Tailamade Lombo sealed her greatness as the best of her crop.
At three Tailamade Lombo had 18 starts for 16 wins, a second and a third.
Her victories include the Victorian, WA, Queensland and Australian Oaks, Queensland and Australian Derbys, New South Wales Sires' and APG Finals.
Tailamade Lombo was runner-up in the NSW Derby and third in Queensland's Blue Riband.
Making her Grand Circuit debut at her second four-year-old start, Tailamade Lombo finished fourth in the 1998 Queensland Pacing Championship, won by Three Half Whites.
The following week, Tailamade Lombo finished at the tail of the field in the Australian Pacing Championship.
Tailamade Lombo then finished second behind a rampaging Christian Cullen in the Miracle Mile.
Making the trip to Western Australia three weeks later to finish unplaced in the Golden Nugget, Tailamade Lombo was then transported to Tasmania for the Pacing Championship in January 1999.
Driven by Chris Alford, the daughter of Troublemaker beat Our Sir Vancelot and Anvils Star to become the third mare on the feature’s honour roll.
“We never had any doubts she was ready for the Grand Circuit,” Davies said. “She was only a raw four-year-old, but she was ready to take on the best.
“She was a sensational mare and I doubt I will ever train one as good as her.”
Continuing her whirlwind campaign, Tailamade Lombo then finished fourth in the Victoria Cup before coming in last in the Western Australia Cup.
Success in her second Ladyship Mile – her first run for four months – saw Tailamade Lombo invited into the Miracle Mile once again, this time finishing sixth behind Holmes D G.
That performance was followed by a fourth in the Treuer Memorial – also won by Holmes D G – before a return trip to Tasmania in December 1999.
Driven by Alford once again, Tailamade Lombo easily accounted for Turbo Tyson and Zyuganov Leis.
Tailamade Lombo is still the only pacer to register consecutive wins in the Group One, with Paleface Lyndy the only other dual winner, having scored in 1983 and 1985.
“I wasn’t aware she held that record,” Davies declared. “Even after all these years, she still amazes me.”
Tailamade Lombo was then unplaced in the Victoria and Western Australia Cups.
Ready for the next season’s circuit, Tailamade Lombo completed her third top level win by taking out the Queensland Pacing Championship.
With regular reinsman Alford in the cart, the millionaire beat Courage Under Fire and Ablazin Star.
Scorching around the Gold Coast track, Tailamade Lombo rated 1:55.3 for the 2100 metres – a world record for a mare over the distance.
“Her Derby win as a three-year-old was great, but the night she beat Courage Under Fire in Queensland was her best win in my book,” Davies said. “She was at her absolute best that night, I don’t think there was a pacer in the world that could have beaten her. “
Tailamade Lombo continued to race on the Grand Circuit until her retirement in 2002.
During that period her best results were thirds in the 2000 Miracle Mile and Treuer Memorial.
After running placings in each of her 2002 Inter Dominion heats at Harold Park, Tailamade Lombo was seventh in the Final, which was her swansong.
“Every time she raced from the moment she arrived at the stable as a two-year-old, we just had so much confidence in her,” said Davies.
“I don’t think there was ever a race we thought she simply could not win, that’s the kind of marvellous mare she was.”
Tailamade Lombo was retired with the solid record of 49 wins and 25 placings from 110 starts for earnings of $1,354,978.
At stud Tailamade Lombo produced 10 winners from 13 starts, including multiple Group One winner, Aussie Made Lombo.
