Tess Primed for Adelaide Assault

Posted on April 19, 2018April 19, 2018 | Posted by Tim Walker

Star WA mare Dainty Tess has arrived in Adelaide in good order ahead of her South Australian debut in the Group 3 Irwin Stakes (1100m) on Saturday.

The four-year-old, who won the Marjorie Charleson Classic first-up on April 8, had to travel by plane from Perth to Melbourne, then by float to Adelaide.

Morton said the arduous travel schedule wasn’t ideal for the mare, but said she had handled it well.

“It’s a bit of a logistical nightmare, but it’s just a part of how it is,” Morton told TABradio’s The Sports Daily.

“She handled it really well.

“I flew with her on the plane and she was perfect all the way.”

Dainty Tess will face a difficult assignment in this weekend’s $120,000 feature, with three Group 1 winners among her nine rivals.

South Australia’s star sprinter, and Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes winner, Viddora headlines the field, while last year’s Sangster Stakes winner Secret Agenda and 2016 Oakleigh Plate champion Flamberge join Viddora.

In-form South Australian jockey Jamie Kah has the ride on Dainty Tess on Saturday, and Morton said he was looking forward to seeing how his mare measured up against some of the nation’s best sprinters at Morphettville.

“She will work there (Morphettville) tomorrow morning,” he said.

“We’ve got her pretty ready.

“They’re not mucking around, there’s no easy ones on this side of the country.”

While Morton said he was excited about the two races in South Australia, which also features the Sangster Stakes on May 5, he was more excited about heading to Queensland for a three race campaign.

The Group 3 Lady Of The Turf Stakes (1350m) on May 26, and Group 2 Dane Ripper Quality (1350m) on June 9, both for fillies and mares are likely to be target races for Dainty Tess, before her program culminates in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1350m) on June 23.

“I’m looking forward to that,” Morton said.

“They are the ones I am most excited about, they will be right up her alley.

“You probably don’t get the big guns like Viddora up there.”

Meanwhile, Morton said he would aim Crystal Slipper Stakes winner Nocelle towards the Group 3 WA Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) on April 28.

Nocelle finished eighth in the Karrakatta Plate on Saturday, where she was beaten a little over six lengths by Valour Road.

“She pulled up really well,” he said.

“I’ll let the dust settle and see how she is, and if we are happy, then we will head towards the Sires.”