Mamzelle Tess (Image: Racing Photos)
Troy Corstens is banking on the hard-won popularity built up over a long career by Stakes-winning mare Mamzelle Tess being warmly remembered by All-Star Mile voters in the new year.
Mamzelle Tess was retired from racing at the end of last season but makes her comeback as an eight-year-old this summer after failing to get into foal during spring.
Corstens said the winner of some $633,000 in stakes across 48 races had a strong following during her career and so he is hopeful those punters and horse lovers will support her with a vote for March's $5 million All-Star Mile at The Valley, where the top 10 vote-getters earn a spot in the 15-horse field.
"She had a bit of a cult following when she was at her peak," Corstens explained on Thursday. "A lot of people seemed to like her so you never know, she could get a few votes.
"We used to get letters and emails from punters that followed her. She is just so honest and I think that is why everyone loved her so much.
"If she can get enough votes and take her spot, she'll run well.
"She retired sound, so we thought, 'Why not'?"
Corstens, who trains the mare in partnership with his father Leon, said Mamzelle Tess was taking well to her build-up and was about two weeks away from a jumpout.
"She's come back and she's big and she's strong and she's really enjoying it," he said. "I can't wait to get her back at the track."
Mamzelle Tess' affinity with the 1600-metre course at The Valley - where she was a Group 2 winner of the Sunline Stakes in what was to be her final racing campaign - also played a part in The All-Star Mile becoming her target.
"That's another reason why we thought we'd throw a nomination in," he said of the venue.
Mamzelle Tess is the third horse from the Corstens yard to be among The All-Star Mile entries, alongside Morrissy and Yes Baby Yes.
Morrissy won his jumpout at Flemington on Thursday morning and will go into the G3 Standish Handicap first-up at Flemington on January 1.
G2 winner Yes Baby Yes will run fresh in Brisbane over the next week before being readied for the $2m Magic Millions Guineas on the Gold Coast on January 16.