3 minute read
The pressure is off Tennessee with her unbeaten record intact and a certain start awaiting her in the Listed Karaka Million.
The filly emulated her stablemate Xiong Feng, who won the juvenile event at Ellerslie, with a tidy performance to claim top two-year-old honours in Saturday’s Listed Linwood Park Wellesley Stakes at Trentham.
“She can have a couple of weeks off now and when she comes back she can have a run in something like the Eclipse Stakes before the Karaka Million,” said Stephen McKee, who prepares Tennessee with Eddie Chippendale.“She was a little bit on the toe saddling her up so there is more improvement to come from her.”
Tennessee was also fractious at the barrier and wasn’t the fastest away before she kicked up along the fence to lead.The Per Incanto filly was hotly challenged by the southerner Dontpokethetiger in the straight, but she had the answer and rallied strongly to remain undefeated following her Ruakaka debut victory.
“She’s a natural and that seems a trait of the Per Incantos, they all come out running,” McKee said. “She’s a very, very fast filly with quite a big stride.”Tennessee has been ridden in both her starts by Sam Spratt and she said the youngster would derive further benefit from her Wellington experience.
“She was a bit fired up behind the gates, she’s still learning what it’s all about. I thought she was gone when she changed legs, but she got going again and hit the line strongly.”Riccarton trainer Peter Rudkin’s decision to head north with Dontpokethetiger instead of stepping him out at his home meeting almost paid a winning dividend while debutante Fortaleza was doing her best work late to take third money.
