TESTA Rossa appears certain to play a strong hand in this year’s Group One MRC Thousand Guineas (1600m) after Sistine Angel and Panipique finished second and third in yesterday’s Prelude at Caulfield.
Local duo Sistine Angel and Panipique each handed in superb trials for the upcoming classic behind Sydney miss Divorces.
The Peter Moody trained Panipique held on bravely after reaching the lead at the 800m only to be run down late while last start H.D.F McNeil Stakes winner Sistine Angel closed fast after an intertupted run along ther rails to miss by a neck.
“She sprinted home off a fast pace to win first-up, now she’s shown she can sprint off a slow tempo,” jockey Craig Williams said.
“But for being impeded close to the finish, she’d have made it interesting.”
Both fillies represent the first crop of Testa Rossa from Vinery Stud where he relocated in 2006.
Testa Rossa’s own Caulfield Guineas attempt remains the stuff of legend after he and Redoute’s Choice fought out an epic struggle with Commands back in third.
