TESTA ROSSA

 A brilliant six-time group one winner, Danzig grandson, Testa Rossa, has rapidly established himself as a prolific sire. What’s more, his best bred crops have yet to reach the track.

Danzig line stallions have enjoyed great success when crossed over Mr. Prospector line mares, and Testa Rossa has already sired group two winner Vormista out of a mare by Bellotto. Testa Rossa would be particularly good with Mr. Prospector through Geiger Counter and Jade Robbery (from the same family as Perugino), and other Mr. Prospector sources include Woodman (sire of Timber Country),Thunder Gulch, Umatilla, Zafonic (by Gone West), Street Cry, Thunder Gulch (who might work particularly well), and Lujain and Secret Savings (by Seeking the Gold).

Another excellent cross for Danzig is Sir Tristram, and from this broodmare sire line, Testa Rossa has stakes winners out of mares by Zabeel (who looks particularly interesting, as does his son Octagonal and grandson Lonhro), Marauding, Sovereign Red and His RoyalHighness (by Grosvenor). Other sons of Sir Tristram to try here include Kaapstad, Military Plume, and El Qahira.

Danzig line stallions have enjoyed considerable success with mares from the Kenmare line, and Testa Rossa, who has both Vain and Grey Sovereign in his female line, should have strong affinity with mares by that sireline. He already has group winner Publishing out of a mare by Keltrice, and black-type winner Testana out of a mare by Highest Honor. It would also be possible to introduce Kenmare through Kenvain, Kendor and Metal Storm.

Even through Testa Rossa is a Northern Dancer line stallion, he has crossed very well back over Northern Dancer line mares. His group winner Wordsmith is out of a mare by Yeats (by Nijinsky II from the immediate family of Testa Rossa’s sire, Perugino). This suggest close relatives to Yeats, such as Sadler’s Wells, Fairy King (sire of Encosta de Lago, Falbrav and Helissio) and Nureyev (Fasliyev mares are particularly appealing). Testa Rossa also has a stakes winner out of a mare by Vision (a brother to Caerleon), suggesting other sources of Nijinsky II, such as Royal Academy (mares by his son Bel Esprit particularly), Bletchley Park and Whiskey Road. Other branches of Northern Dancer to supply the dams of Testa Rossa stakes winners are Vice Regent (via Archregent and Dehere), Storm Cat (through Catrail), and Lyphard (out of a mares by Tolomeo and Llandaf).

Testa Rossa sired the brilliant filly Rostova, out of a mare Anabaa, from his own Danzig sire line. We are seeing a number of Danzig lines able to breed back upon themselves and mares by Anabaa, Chief’s Crown and his son Grand Lodge, and the Green Desert branch of Danzig should be very good here. Sources of Green Desert include Cape Cross, Desert Sun, Magic Ring and Volksraad.

Testa Rossa has also sired group one winner Testafiable out of a mare by Prince Echo (by Crowned Prince), two stakes winners, one group winner out of a mare by Rory’s Jester, a group winner out of a mare by a son of Snippets (by Lunchtime), and  stakes winners out of mares by Noalcoholic and Century.  Testa Rossa should also do well with mares descending from Thatching, who is represented in Australia by Archway, Rustic Amber (and his son Sequalo), Tirol and Shalford.

Alan Porter – Pedigree Consultants