In-form Tellum on target for Wanganui

[Wandering Eyes]

A dominant last-start victory confirmed travel plans for Tellum to head south for a first crack at a black-type feature.

The promising filly will bid to continue her hot run of form in the Listed O’Leary’s Fillies’ Stakes (1340m) on Saturday, with Lynsey Satherley booked for the ride by trainer Debbie Sweeney.

Tellum has won her last two on the bounce at the expense of older opposition, but it was her most recent victory romp at Te Aroha that ensured her place in the Wanganui contest.

“She’s been super and it’s hard to beat the older horses, which she’s done,” Sweeney said.

“Wanganui was always the plan, and we said we would head that way if she won her last one.”

A daughter of Ocean Park, Tellum had broken her maiden over 1400m at Te Aroha in October and repeated her course and distance heroics on a return visit earlier this month.

“She keeps taking the next step up and has improved again,” Sweeney said.

Tellum has been patiently handled and finished in behind the major players in both of her two-year-old outings before she was sent for a break.

“We didn’t do too much with her last season, and she’s always showed she had ability but was a bit weak,” Sweeney said.

“She needed a bit more time and she’ll be even better with another six months.”

Sweeney will see how Tellum fares at the weekend before confirming future plans for the filly.

“There’s quite a bit of form in the race on Saturday, it’s quite a strong three-year-old fillies’ race so it will be interesting to see her against her own age and sex and how she measures up,” she said.

“She’s certainly done nothing wrong to date and was pretty impressive last start.”

Meanwhile, Sweeney is also upbeat about the summer prospects of Tellum’s older stablemate Gillian.

The Wentwood Grange-bred and raced daughter of Darci Brahma produced a strong staying performance to win last time out at Te Aroha over 2200m, with all three of her career victories posted over middle distances.

“She’s only lightly raced and will head to Tauranga in a fortnight for a Rating 75 over 2100m race,” Sweeney said.

“We’ll keep her in her own grade at this stage and, hopefully, we’ll look at some of those nice Cups’ races over the Christmas period.

“She has always showed a lot of promise and has bounced back to form.”

Gillian is also likely to tackle the Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers’ Championship Final (2400m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

“She obviously stays well so she’ll target that as well,” Sweeney said.

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