VETERAN harness racing trainer Rod Burgess has been involved in the game for over five decades so when he says he has a horse that should make it to open company it should be just about taken as a given that the horse will achieve the goal.
Burgess is confident his former Victorian mare Tessanzo can win her way to open class and maybe achieve the feat this season.
Tessanzo made it four wins from eight starts for Burgess when she led all the way to win the Santastics Pan Stakes over 2200 metres at The TOTE Racing Centre in Launceston last Sunday night.
With ace reinsman Rohan Hadley in the sulky, Tessanzo showed brilliant gate speed to find the front and after setting a slick tempo, she held out the highly promising Grinable to score by a long neck with Prettyboytoby about 2-1/2 metres away third.
Tessanzo (Life Sign-Dalmont Jo) arrived at Burgess’ stables in June and she won at her first outing at Devonport in a 3AO in mid July.
A week later she stepped out in the first harness race ever held on the synthetic thoroughbred track at Spreyton Park (Devonport) and scored a brilliant win after facing the breeze for almost the entire race.
The four-year-old mare has continued to shine in her adopted state and Burgess is adamant she can make to top class.
Listen to Peter Staples’ interview with trainer Rod Burgess – click here.