Promising colt Tazahum became the second English stakes winner for champion sire Redoute’s Choice at Sandown on Thursday evening.

Tazahum (USA) scored a last-stride victory over Fury (Invincible Spirit) in the Listed Heron Stakes.  It was his third win in four starts for Sheikh Hamdan and trainer Sir Michael Stoute.

Tazahum (3c Redoute´s Choice – Huja by Alzao) won on debut at Kempton in September and was then runner-up to top colt Dubawi Gold at Ascot in October.  He resumed this term to win the Esher Cup over 1600m at Sandown in April and returned to win the Heron Stakes over the same course and distance.

Redoute’s Choice sired his first European stakes winner when Elzaam captured the LR Carnarvon Stakes (1200m) by six lengths at Newbury on May 13.  Both colts are raced by Sheikh Hamdan.  He bred Tazahum and purchased Elzaam at the 2009 Arqana August yearling sale for 280,000 euros.

Tazahum is from a Group-placed sister to European Group winner Maraahel.  He was held up at the back of the Heron Stakes field on Thursday before Richard Hills drove forward at the two-furlong marker.   

The Redoute’s Choice colt found plenty along the stands’ rail to pip the favourite Fury.  The runner-up was coming off a pleasing fifth in the English 2000 Guineas.

Stoute was bubbling before and after Tazahum’s victory.  He had just saddled champion colt Workforce to a first-up victory in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown.  “I’d like to win a Group race with Tazahum,” Stoute said.  “He is a horse we have always liked, he is progressive and has done very little wrong this season.”

Redoute’s Choice will stand the 2011 southern hemisphere season for a fee of $137,500 (inc gst).  Arrowfield’s champion sire will have up to nine lots at the inaugural session of northern-hemisphere bred yearlings at the 2012 Inglis Easter Sale.