Sprinter Testamezzo (4g Testa Rossa – Tremezzo by Encosta De Lago) will miss the Ascot spring carnival because of a tendon injury.
The winner of the Listed Raconteur Stakes and Magic Millions 3YO Trophy showed he was up with the best after his fourth to Magnifisio and Watermans Bay in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) last November.
Testamezzo finished fourth to Watermans Bay and Magnifisio in the Scahill Stakes (1400m) at his last start on December 6.
Trainer Daniel Pearce’s hopes of returning in this year’s $1 million Winterbottom were dashed by the foreleg injury.
“It is a three-month issue but I will leave it for longer in the hope he can make a full recovery,” Pearce said. “He is only lightly raced and is still a young horse, being a rising five-year-old.
“He will go through his rehabilitation work and the hope is to have him back for the autumn with races like the Pinjarra Classic and Bunbury Stakes available to him.”
Testamezzo has won seven races and been placed four times from his 14 starts for earnings of $405,547.
