TESTA ROSSA scored a rich double at Warwick Farm on Saturday thanks to gelding Heart Testa stretching his unbeaten sequence out to four despite shouldering a crushing weight to win the tab.com.au Handicap (1300m).
The Chris Waller trained 3YO opened up at $1.50 before drifting out to start $1.70 when the field jumped away.
Jockey Jason Collett made full use of Heart Testa’s pace and speed to sit outside the early leader Party Rocker.
Collett released the brakes half way up the running with Heart Testa responding with his now typical burst of acceleration going on to score in impressive style.
“That was a very strong win and he’s going well we could keep him going,” Waller said.
“It would have to be the perfect race in two or three weeks’ time and probably have to be against older horses.”
Heart Testa’s heroics in the opener was matched less than 90 minutes later by Testa Rossa youngster Twilight Royale turned a $45,000 investment into a $165,000 windfall for up and coming trainer Bjorn Baker and connections on yesterday’s Inglis Nursery (1000m) winner at Warwick Farm.
The Nursery was an all out triumph for the 34-year-old Kiwi trainer who also provided the runner-up, Fuerza, in the rich feature.
As well collecting the $145,000 winner’s purse, Twilight Royale also picked up an extra $20,000 courtesy of Testa Rossa’s BOBS eligibility.
“We knew she had ability. She’s got more early speed than him (Fuerza) and you saw that,” Baker said.
“It’s my first two-year-old winner in Sydney and it’s pretty important to me to win these races.
“I bought these horses at the sales, one at the Melbourne sale and one at the Inglis Classic sale, with no buyers and I didn’t have many horses at the time.
“This is just huge and they both have good futures.”
Twilight Royale is the 466th individual winner sired by Testa Rossa and will in the future strive to join his 41 stakeswinning elite.
Her dam, Royal Season, is a daughter of Royal Academy.
Her earlier foals include the Tale of the Cat gelding Chater D’Cat who was runner-up in the 2008 Listed VRC Gibson Carmichael Stakes (1600m) before being relocated to Hong Kong.
Twilight Royal’s Inglis Nursery victory comes just in time to remind buyers of the benefits of racing a Testa Rossa with the 2013 sales series set to kick off at the Gold Coast in three weeks time.
Testa Rossa has a total of 18 yearlings headed for the Magic Millions.