Group Two Reward for Gallant Tess

1st March 2008

The Group Two AJC Breeders Classic at Randwick on Saturday proved an ideal assignment for Gallant Tess (4m Galileo x Dragoncello, by Diesis) , who skipped away from her rivals to score a dominant victory.

An elegant bay endowed with well above average ability, Gallant Tess has an enviable record when produced fresh and lived right up to that in scoring her first Group success in beating Flying Alpha by two and a half lengths.

“She loves racing fresh, although you just wait until she gets up to a mile, the shorter races aren’t really her go,” said David Payne, who scored a Group Two win earlier in the day with the Choisir filly Hurried Choice.

“She was a light framed filly as a two year-old, but has developed into a really lovely mare.”

A stakes-winner at two, Gallant Tess has the overall record of four wins and five placings from 15 starts with prizemoney of $325,825

Raced by long time stable client John Cordina, Gallant Tess was secured privately after passing in shy of her $60,000 reserve when offered by Kitchwin Hills at the 2005 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Gallant Tess comes from an international family being from the Diesis mare Dragoncello, a half-sister to US Group One winner Little Brianne.

Gallant Tess is from the first Australian crop of foals sired by champion racehorse and sire Galileo, who has failed to make the same impact in Australia that he has in the Northern Hemisphere where he is one of the leading sires for Coolmore.

Galileo has significant drafts of yearlings for upcoming sales with 10 for Inglis Premier, 16 for Magic Millions and nine for Inglis Easter.