TESTA Rossa celebrated the New Year with arrival of his 31st individual stakeswinner when tough five-year-old Rentarossa captured the prestigious VRC Bagot Handicap.

It is well known that Testa Rossa – an unsurpassed sprinter/miler himself – has made versatility his trademark with stakeswinners from 1000m up to Testifiable’s Group One SAJC Derby win over 2500m but today’s victory by Rentarossa over a gruelling 2800m at Flemington takes him to a new level.

“When horses are tough and sound and can train-on, they will if they are good enough, be able to compete at longer distances,” says Vinery Stud’s Adam White.

“And that has been the case with the Testa Rossa’s. They still possess that brilliance even when they get up over longer trips and that proved invaluable for Rentarossa today when he came from midfield to street them really.”

Rentarossa’s win is a timely reminder for buyers planning to attend the 2011 Magic Millions Yearling sale at the Gold Coast starting on January 12 where 18 of Testa Rossa’s offspring will go under the hammer.

“Most people rate Testa Rossa as the most impressive if not the most emphatic winner of the Magic Millions race and we know that he can get a good two-year-old that trains on. There are some lovely athletes making their way to the Magic Millions and I expect that they will prove very popular with buyers,” White said.