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Teej A aces Epsom test

Karl Burke's Teej A took her record to two from three when landing the Epsom opener on Oaks Day.

Trainer : Karl Burke.
Trainer : Karl Burke. Picture: AAP Image

The winner, one of four runners in the race for owner Nick Bradley Racing, raced handily and in all truth never looked like being caught after taking the lead entering the final furlong. Challengers attempted to pass Karl Burke's progressive filly towards the middle of the track but the daughter of Mehmas ran on well to score by a length and a quarter from Megalithic.

Winning trainer Karl Burke said: "She went beautifully at Chester when she won last time; she travelled really well and balanced down the hill. But the great thing about her is that she has grown up behind since Chester - I really noticed it in the paddock and watching her stood still there. She's got a couple of inches to grow, I think, so there's a bit of scope there for the future.

"I don't know about Royal Ascot for her. She's got the ability to go there, but I think there's a bit of growing to do, so why rush her back when she's had a couple of quick races, now? We'll probably go for a nice Group race in France, get that black type for her, and I'd be looking at the likes of the Cheveley Park Stakes for her later in the season, and really fulfil her potential.

"I think Clifford probably kicked on 100 yards earlier than he needed to, and I thought she was going to get collared by Ralph Beckett's horse in the final furlong, but to be fair to her, she stuck on really well. I was impressed with her there - she was very tough in the last 100yd."

Clifford Lee, rider of the winner, said: "She's a nice filly and she won well at Chester. She did everything right here. She jumped the gates well and got a nice position. I was always travelling very well and if anything, I could have held on to her a little longer as I possibly went a bit soon and she pricked her ears a little bit. She could be a Royal Ascot filly. I'd have thought she'd probably go there."

Ralph Beckett, trainer of the second Megalithic, said: "The draw kind of killed us, but he's a nice little horse. The winner got the run of it, and had been round Chester - I'm not making excuses; the winner won well - but I thought, given how the first two furlongs went, he did really well to get there and couldn't just quite haul the winner in.

"I hope he's a stakes horse - based on that, you'd hope he is. I don't think we'll go to Royal Ascot, we'll find a maiden for him and take a slightly longer-term view."


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