Tamfana gains deserved Group 1 success and shines a spotlight on German breeding

Tamfana was a posthumous new Group 1 winner for Soldier Hollow when gaining a well-deserved success in the Sun Chariot Stakes for David Menuisier and Quantum Leap Racing.

The three-year-old was arguably the unluckiest filly in the field for the 1,000 Guineas over course and distance five months ago when a fast-finishing fourth to Elmalka, having been denied a clear passage when trying to make her way from the rear of the field.

She showed she belonged in the best company when just three-quarters of a length behind Sparkling Plenty in the Prix de Diane on her next outing and was fourth to current Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe favourite Sosie in the Grand Prix de Paris.

Dropped back in trip and grade for the Group 3 Atalanta Stakes, she returned to the winner's enclosure for the first time since her two-year-old days when she was successful in the Group 3 Prix Miesque and a Kempton maiden from only three starts.

Bred by Gestut Etzean and Hans–Helmut Rodenberg, she was bought by Jeremy Brummitt for €20,000 at the BBAG September Yearling Sale from the draft of Etzean.

Tamfana is the third living foal out of Tres Magnifique, who was also bred by the German farm and Rodenberg. The daughter of Zoffany ran once over a mile at Saint-Cloud, her sole start at two.

Tres Magnifique is out of Ticana, a winning Sholokhov full-sister to Timos, the sire of Galopin Des Champs, and a half-sister to Youmzain's Grade 1 Beverly D Stakes winner Sea Calisi and to dual Group 3 winner Tareno, by Saddlers' Hall.

Tamfana's year-younger Areion half-sister The Palace Girl looks to have potential; she made her debut at the Curragh just minutes before the Group 1 success and finished second to Giselle for Kevin Coleman and Atomic Racing. 

That daughter of Frankel and Breeders' Cup winner Newspaperofrecord had been second to Bedtime Story on her sole previous run and holds entries in next weekend's Group 1 Fillies' Mile and Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes.

Soldier Hollow: leading German stallion sired a posthumous Group 1 winner in TamfanaCredit: Gestut Auenquelle

The Palace Girl was bought by O'Byrne,Grassick and Coleman from Etzean as a yearling at BBAG last September for €30,000. 

David Menuisier bought their five-year-old Amaron half-sister The Great Escape in foal to Gimcrack Stakes winner Lusail for €40,000 at Arqana's Summer Sale

Tres Magnifique was covered by Soldier Hollow but didn't produce a foal in 2023 and wasn't covered in 2024. 

Soldier Hollow died at the age of 24, a day after Tamfana's Guineas run and bequeathed German racing and breeding a fantastic legacy, carrying on that of his own sire In The Wings. 

Beloved by his owner Helmut von Finck, Soldier Hollow was German'y's champion sire on three occasions and his Group 1 winners prior to Tamfana's success are Dschingis Secret, Weltstar, Pastorious and Ivanhowe.

He is also the broodmare sire of von Finck's homebred Deutsches Derby winner Sammarco and of Japanese Group 1 winner and Shadai stallion Schnell Meister, a son of Serienholde.

Over jumps his best include Grade 1 winners Arctic Fire and Saldier.

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