The James Cummings trained Tenley has joined Godolphin’s Golden Slipper hopes after scoring a come from behind win in the $150,000 Pierro Plate (1100m) at Randwick today.
Tenley, above, rockets into Golden Slipper contention with a win in the Pierro Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Tenley was racing with the blinkers on for the first time and remains unbeaten from two race starts after winning her maiden on the Kensington track at Randwick on November 22.
Winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy was on board Tenley for her maiden win and even though he was expecting plenty of improvement from Medaglio D’Oro filly, he was very impressed with her winning effort today.
“She has impressed me the way she has done it,” McEvoy said.
“She let go with a really powerful finish so she is a smart filly.”
Tenley ($10) was a little slow to leave the starting gates and settled near the tail of the field but once McEvoy manoeuvred her to middle of the Randwick straight, the filly stormed home to record a one and three quarter lengths win over All Cylinders ($14) who fought on well after setting the pace.
Third placegetter Jonah ($9.50) also ran on from the back to be a long head behind the runner up while the Gerald Ryan trained favourite Covert Ops (4.20) faded in the straight to finish in tenth position after racing on the pace.
The Godolphin Team already has a strong contingent heading towards the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 23 with the two early favourites Tassort ($5) and Exhilarates ($9) and stable representative Darren Beadman rates Tenley alongside of them with the filly firming into $26 at Ladbrokes.com.au.
“She is right up there with the main group,” Beadman said.
“James elected to put the blinkers on her because she was quite laid back in the trial and getting up against this nippier type horses in the better grade of two year old, you have to have that little bit of zest about you and she proved it today.”
“He (Kerrin McEvoy) just let her find her feet for the first couple of furlongs. On the corner he got the nice run through.”
“She is a real quality filly and I think there are bigger things in store for her.”
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