There would be very few mares that take until they are seven years old to breakthrough at stakes level but few would deny the tough-as-teak O’Lonhro mare Mamzelle Tess her moment in the sun.
It came in Friday night’s Group II Sheamus Mills Sunline Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley and it was a typically gritty performance.
When it looked as if Hugh Bowman on Bam's On Fire had her measure, Mamzelle Tess rallied under Ben Thompson in the final 100 metres to defeat Bam's On Fire (Universal Ruler) by a half-length with Fidelia (Not A Single Doubt) one and a quarter lengths back in third.
Trained by Leon and Troy Corstens, Mamzelle Tess advances her record to 8 wins, 7 seconds and 13 thirds from 47 starts with earnings of $623,680.
“She deserves it. She’s run some terrific races with not much luck that just topped it off, Leon Corstens said.
“The only other time she won at a mile was here so we though we would give this a crack.
“She might be in her last prep but you will definitely see her again.”
The Naismith family homebred is sixth and final foal of the Sarason (At Talaq) mare Phoenix Crown whose family has been devoid of a stakes-winner for four generations dating back to the AJC Derby, AJC Doncaster H., All-Aged Stakes, Metropolitan H., and two-time VRC LKS Mackinnon Stakes winner Belmura Lad.
Mamzelle Tess becomes the first stakes-winner for Larneuk Stud’s Group II AJC Chelmsford Stakes winner O’Lonhro (Lonhro) who covered 33 mares last spring at a fee of $5,500.
