Many horses find it hard to record consecutive victories, but Ciaron Maher’s progressive Written Tycoon mare Tennessee Bound took her impressive record to six starts – six wins – with a narrow victory in the Sportsbet Caulfield Cup Carnival Hospitality Handicap (1100m).
Away slightly awkwardly from the inside barrier, apprentice Jabez Johnstone recovered quickly as the mare went forward along the inside to take up the running, as Gavin Bedggod’s I Am Invincible gelding Behaviour sat on her outside after jumping of the outside barrier.
With the pair matching strides, Tennessee Bound cornered with her head slightly in front, but Behaviour was not willing to surrender.
Tennessee Bound began to pull away, but Behaviour started to rally back as the pair went battled to the line, with the mare doing enough to keep her head in front, and record her sixth victory.
Having trained Marabi to seven consecutive wins, one more than Tennessee Bound, trainer Ciaron Maher isn’t getting too carried away with his mare just yet.
“We’ve been patient with her,” Maher said. “She had a three-month break before this preparation and that really helped her. You can see stripped pretty well today.
“The claim from Jabez probably helped but getting to the line was pretty interesting and she seems to find a way to win.
“All she can do is win so we can’t be too hard on her. She’s progressing and she keeps winning. It certainly feels tougher every time she steps out but she handles the track so we’ll raise the bar again.
“We won’t get too carried away just yet, but I am sure Gerry is pretty happy.”
Johnstone was clearly relieved to have continued Tennessee Bound’s unbeaten run despite awkward start.
“It was certainly messy that’s for sure,” said Johnstone. “She stepped awkward and had a bit of a trip but still gathered herself.”
“I was under pressure early coming into the straight and she did lay out marginally, but for a horse to win six in a row is an outstanding effort.
“I think it was probably just a bit too wet plus the tricky start and the pressure at the 400-metre mark, so for that to all unfold and for her to still dig in for the win, outstanding effort.
“I still think she’s ultra progressive. She will go a long way. It is good to see her come and do that here today because she’s still doing a couple of things wrong.”
Taking her earnings to just shy of $200,000 from her six wins, Tennessee Bound was a $150,000 Inglis Premier purchase from the Morningside draft for John Foote Bloodstock.
Racing in the silks of Gerry Ryan’s Limerick Lane, Tennessee Bound is the first winner out of the stakes-winning Per Incanto (USA) mare Tennessee (NZ), a half-sister to G1 winner Campionessa (NZ) and stakes-winner Leedox (NZ) from the extended family of G1 winner Dress Circle (NZ).
Tennessee’s weanling colt by Pierata, who was bred and consigned by Bhima, was sold at this year’s Inglis Australian Weanling Sale for $60,000 to Elenara Pastoral, while the mare is due to foal in the spring to Coolmore’s City Of Troy (USA), the four-time G1-winning son of Justify (USA).
The sire of 82 stakes winners highlighted by 18 G1 winners, the Yulong based Written Tycoon has his fee listed as Private for the upcoming breeding season.
