Testa Rossa took the first step towards another avalanche of winners this season when Amelie’s Star bolted in by 7 lengths at Hawkesbury on Thursday.
The Peter Moody trained mare was the Vinery stallion’s first winner of the new season and connections will be hoping she progresses like Samartested who opened Testa Rossa’s account last season in a Geelong maiden.
Samartested went on to win 4 races in 2014-15 and she was also Group 3 placed in the Angus Armanasco Stakes at Caulfield.
Testa Rossa is on track to sire the winners of more than 100 races for the 10th year in a row following strike-rates of 148 – 176 – 196 – 189 – 193 – 202 – 178 – 129 – 137.
Amelie’s Star had put the writing on the wall at her first two runs back from a break at Warwick Farm and Wyong and she was suited by the step up to 1800m on Thursday. Born and raised at Vinery, she is a half-sister to Perth winner Razed In Flames (More Than Ready) and recent Canterbury winner Honey Cara (Mossman).
Their dam Zazita (Zabeel) is a half-sister to NZ Karaka Millions winner Sister Havana.
Testa Rossa has maintained a phenomenal 73% winners-to-runners over the last decade and Vinery will stand him for a $19,800 (inc GST) fee this year.
