Tess stepping up

The comparisons to Pink Galahs are inevitable and there’s starting to be a really good spruik around for stablemate Aldebaran Tess.

Mattie Craven’s rangy mare has won all three races as a four-year-old, including Saturday night’s Alamora Tarneit Now Selling Trot at Kilmore.

The victory, in a slick 1:58.8 mile rate over the 2180m trip, followed back-to-back triumphs at Melton, with the horse’s record now at seven successes from 14 starts.

The daughter of Muscle Hill shapes as “potentially a really, really good mare” according to her trainer, who said her work at home at times suggested she could be better than the multiple Group 1-winning Pink Galahs.

“As far as that three-year-old crop goes, there’s not a lot between all of them,” Craven said.

“There’s not a lot between them in what they do in their work. Pink Galahs is probably just that fraction more brilliant at this stage.”

KILMORE RACE REPLAY

Another from that 2020 three-year-old fillies’ crop is Anton Golino’s Im Ready Jet, who put together a brilliant display to win the Garrards Maori’s Idol Trotters Free For All on Saturday night.

Craven is tempted to try Aldebaran Tess in open mares’ grade this weekend, nominating her for the Group 3 TAB Sumthingaboutmaori Trotters Free For All at Bendigo.

Aldebaran Tess, who finished behind Pink Galahs in the Victoria Trotters Oaks last year when she broke in running, will be aimed at the Breeders Crown Series as one of her key aims in 2021.

Craven also provided an update on Shadow Sax, who disappointed in his return to the races on Saturday night.

The Ecklin South trainer said the horse had pulled up fine following his sixth placing in the Hylands My Lightning Blue Free For All, in what was his first run since suffering cardiac arrhythmia in Bendigo on July 3.

He said retirement would be a decision for the owners to make, but added it hadn’t yet been mentioned for the winner of more than $550,000 in prizemoney.

By Tim O’Connor for Harness Racing Victoria