Age shall not weary Vinery Stud champion Testa Rossa, the 21 year-old is in the twilight of a storied stud career, nevertheless, he continues to compete at elite Group One level.
NZ sprinter Enzo’s Lad went into Saturday’s Telegraph Hcp (1200m) as one of 63 stakes winners by Testa Rossa and emerged as his fourth Group 1 winner while clocking a quick 1.08.30s at Trentham.
Enzo’s Lad (5g Testa Rossa – Sheerama by Catbird) went out a $74 longshot despite a Listed victory in the Pegasus Stakes at Riccarton in November. “I can’t believe it,” apprentice Sam Weatherley said after the on-pace victory. “The race panned out pretty well and he just tried so hard. I saw Kawi coming at us, but he just kept going. He’s a very good horse.”
A $15,000 graduate of the 2014 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, Enzo’s Lad has won 5 of his 20 starts for earnings of $231,200. His dam is a half-sister to Patpong (Schillaci Stakes Gr 2) and she has also foaled Australian winners by More Than Ready and Snitzel.
Enzo’s Lad was Testa Rossa’s sixth stakes winner in 2017 following Testashadow, Dark Alert, Cavaloce, Time To Test & Amelie’s Star. They helped maintain his strike-rate at a sky-high 73% winners-to-runners.
Vinery’s elder statesman has four yearlings catalogued for the Inglis Classic Sale starting on February 10. The filly from Few Words (Lot 393) being sold by Vinery (as agent), is closely related to Testa Rossa’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Unencumbered.
