Well, that didn’t take very long!  Just on two months ago, the stakes winning Testa Rossa mare Ellicazoom was knocked down for $420,000 at the Perth Magic Millions Winter Sale: a record price for a horse sold at public auction in WA.

On Saturday, racing for the first time in the Kitchwin Hills silks, Ellicazoom went zoom-zoom in the Cockram Stakes Gr.3 over 1200m at Caulfield, scoring by two lengths plus change in a barnstorming finish.

It was manna from heaven for Mick Malone from Kitchwin Hills – who like so many NSW farmers – is feeling the devastating effects of the drought.

And while the $90,000 first prize still falls short of the figure paid in Perth, the broodmare residual alone from Group success in Melbourne is incalculable.

Amazingly, particularly given the authority of the victory, it was the first time back in the winners stall for Ellicazoom since capturing the Burgess Queen Stakes LR over 1400m at Ascot in November 2016.  Since then, however, the 5yo daughter of Vinery sire Testa Rossa has been runner-up in Group 2 events at Caulfield, Flemington and in WA.

Originally sourced for $180,000 from the 2015 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale by leading WA trainer Neville Parnham, Ellicazoom has raced on 18 occasions for three wins, six placings and $426,574 in stakes.

“I just love the Testa Rossa mares, while she is one of four winners, from as many to race, from the Group 1 winner Ellicorsam,” Malone told Aushorse.  “A lot of mares like her were hard to buy at the Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale this year and so we were really happy to get her over there.

“I had seen Ellicazoom race in Melbourne so I was familiar with her as a type, but Grant Burns from Magic Millions couldn’t have been more helpful sending across videos and a lot of information on the mare.

“Neville (Parnham) was terrific as well … he wanted to keep training the mare and definitely thought we should keep her in work.  He mentioned a couple of issues we needed to keep an eye out for and provided plenty of insight for her new trainers at Lindsay Park.”

The Cockram win has Malone weighing up his options as to whether Ellicazoom will join the other Kitchwin Hill mares this spring.  “Ellicazoom is actually booked to Snitzel this year,” he said.  “She would probably be heading home to the Hunter now if she hadn’t run very well or just fallen over the line on Saturday.

“We’re likely to give her another run over 1200m in the (G3) How Now Stakes in three weeks.  The (G1) Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes is also on that day although I think she’s far better suited over 1200m than the Rupert Clarke’s 1400m, but who knows?  It’s just great to have got that Group 3 on Saturday.”

Meanwhile, Testa Rossa is enjoying his retirement alongside Mossman at Vinery.  The elder statesmen still have more crops to come – Testa has 28 new-season 2YOs and 26 yearlings.

Mossman has similar numbers from his last two commercial crops.  His multiple stakes winner Crack Me Up won a Deagon trial last week and returns to racing in the Bobbie Lewis Hcp Gr.2 at Flemington on September 15.