Group Two Glory for Gallant Tess

9th September 2008

A close second to champion miler Racing to Win is always good form and so it worked out for talented mare Gallant Tess (5m Galileo x Dragoncello, by Diesis) when she bounced back from that narrow defeat to score a powerful victory in the Group Two AJC Chelmsford Stakes over 1600 metres at Randwick on Tuesday.

Ridden a treat by in-form jockey Jeff Lloyd, the David Payne trained Gallant Tess coasted along in third position and when asked to extend in the straight gathered in smart mare Kishkat and then held off a challenge from Triple Honour to win by more than a length in a thoroughly professional display.

“She’s a very under-rated filly, but she’s come up very well this time and now we’ll have to just have a look and see where we go from here,” said David Payne.

“I’d love to win a Group One with her for the owners so maybe a race like the Myer Classic in Melbourne.”

A stakes-winner at two, Gallant Tess has trained on in style with the overall record of five wins and six placings from 20 starts with prizemoney of $508,425.

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 is peerless in Europe this year with a string of Group One winners such as New Approach, Lush Lashes and Soldier of Fortune.

The last Australian crop of foals by Galileo are yearlings to be offered at the sales in 2009.