The Tatling was a dark bay or brown gelding with a small white star bred in Ireland by Patrick J Power.
[3] The Tatling's dam Aunty Eileen made little impact as a racehorse but was a half-sister of the Duke of York Stakes winner Lugana Beach.
In July of that year he was offered for sale at Tattersalls and bought for 11,000 guineas by the trainer David Nicholls[8] and entered the ownership of The Gardening Partnership.
In the summer he passed into the ownership of the Dab Hand partnership (David Pearson and Alan Pirie) and was transferred to the stable of Milton Bradley in Gloucestershire.
[9] He recorded his first success since his juvenile season when he won a claiming race at Catterick Racecourse in July and went on to win handicaps at Sandown in August and York in October as well as finishing second as a 33/1 outsider in the Ayr Gold Cup.
On 5 July the gelding was stepped up in class for the Listed Sprint Stakes at Sandown in which he was ridden by Darryll Holland and started the 7/2 favourite against twelve opponents.
The next three places were filled by Vision of Night (winner of the Goldene Peitsche), Bahamian Pirate and The Trader (World Trophy).
With Holland again in the saddle he started 11/4 favourite ahead of the Italian sprinter Slap Shot, Bishops Court (Prix du Petit Couvert), Bahamian Pirate and Smokin Beau (Portland Handicap).
He took the lead entering the final furlong and won by one and a half lengths and a neck from Cape of Good Hope and Frizzante.
[13] Holland describer The Tatling as "a very tough horse" whilst the owner David Pearson revealed that he and Alan Pirie had landed a "massive gamble" and would collect £150,000 in winning bets.
Later that summer he finished third to Ringmoor Down in King George Stakes, second to Bahamian Pirate and second to Pivotal Point when favourite for the Prix du Petit Couvert.
In September he made his second bid to Win the World Trophy and started 5/1 joint second favourite behind Pivotal Point and alongside the filly Airwave whilst the other runners included Majestic Missile, Boogie Street and the recent American import Var.
[17] On his next appearance The Tatling was beaten by Benbaun when favourite for the Flying Five at the Curragh and then attempted to win the World Trophy for the second year in succession.
He was made the 5/2 second favourite behind Majestic Missile whilst the other eleven runners included his old rivals Boogie Street and The Trader.
Milton Bradley explained the horse's continuing presence on the track saying "we tried to retire him a couple of years ago, but he absolutely hated it.
After five further defeats he made his final appearance in a five-furlong handicap at Wolverhampton Racecourse on 12 December in which he was ridden by Richard Kingscote and under top-weight he started a 16/1 outsider in a thirteen-runner field.
[23] From a wide stall position with only two horses on his outside, The Tatling started relaxed and was placed by Richard Kingscote in the rear of the pack where he sat for the first part of the race.
At the turn he began making progress but could not obtain a clear passage in the home straight and had to be maneuvered between horses going from the inner right through the pack back on their outside.
At the same time, he was producing a strong run that eventually got him near the leaders and with his final strides managed to win in a three-way photo-finish from Novabridge and Grand Stitch.
Milton Bradley's granddaughter Sarah announced on the horse's Facebook fan page "I'm sorry to say it is bad news and that we have had to have him put to sleep.