The most expensive yearling by Lonhro ever sold opened her account at Ballarat on Sunday.
A $1.4 million Inglis Easter purchase from the Newhaven Park draft for Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, the Tony and Calvin McEvoy trained filly Tessneem was second on debut at Ballarat last month and made amends for that loss today.
She led all the way for Damian Lane and took the 1200m maiden by a length and a quarter as a short priced favourite.
“It was obviously nice to break her maiden and it’s about getting black-type now,” said Calvin McEvoy.
“She will hold together, she is a big strong horse and still has a few things to learn and got a bit hot beforehand.
“I wouldn’t be going up in distance with her, 1200 metres today is as far as I’d go and you could even come back.”
The Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville on July 31 was mentioned as a possible target.
Bred in partnership by Seymour Bloodstock, Tessneem is a full sister to brilliant Group II winner Heatherly, who was twice Group I placed and sold for $1.6million at the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
She is the fourth winner from four to race from Dancing Heather, a half-sister by Danzero to Group I winner Linton.
A yearling colt by Lonhro from Dancing Heather sold for $400,000 at Inglis Easter this year to Ciaron Maher Bloodstock and the mare has a filly to follow also by Lonhro and is back in foal to him again.
Lonhro stands at Darley at a fee of $66,000 this spring.
