The Testa Rossa bandwagon is growing into a juggernaut after another successful weekend for Vinery Stud’s prolific producer.
Testa Rossa has thrown three new stakeswinners in the space of seven days, the latest being his 37th Stakes winner Testascana in the Listed Heatherlie Handicap at Caulfield yesterday.
Testa Rossa had a typically strong hand to play at Caulfield and counted three stakes performers, Testascana, Red Colossus and Testa My Patience in consecutive races.
Testascana made it four wins in succession by succesfully stepping up to stakes company.
Testascana has now won 9 of his 17 starts with four seconds, one third and posted earnings of $260,000.
Testascana has made it four wins in a row after an impressive display at Caufield today despite being caught three wide for the journey.
Aided by a superb ride by Luke Nolen, the Moody trained galloper managed to find some cover before unleashing a great turn of foot to win by just over a length to Lakedro in second and Tanby in third.
“It panned out perfect,” said Nolen, “On form he was the leader by default and that’s not really his game.”
“Today I had to ask him for a fair dinkum go, he is not cunning, just relaxed and when he gets there he thinks the job is done.”
Peter Moody, who labelled the horse a great little money spinner, said the horse’s best attribute is that he refuses to lie down and that’s what wins him his races.
“That was an absolute gem,” said Moody.
“Where he landed, the only hope was to get cover and if he was out on a limb he probably would have had to swing to the outside.”
“We will probably have to have a look again and see how he pulls up. The last couple time’s we went to the races we thought that might have been it for the prep but he is very resilient.”
Not to be outdone, it was then the turn of Red Colossus, another highly talented Testa Rossa product, to storm into third place in the G2 Memsie Stakes (1400m) behind G1 winners King’s Rose and Heart Of Dreams in what was his first start this preparation.
Red Colossus, a winner of the Group 3 Victoria Stakes during the autumn also finished fifth behind So You Think in last years’ G1 Mackinnon Stakes.
His excellent return sends out the right signals that he could very well improve his 2010 spot when the time comes.
Finally Testa My Patience came through his first appearance at stakes level by flashing to the line to take second behind G1 Galaxy winner Atomic Force in the Listed Slickpix Stakes (1100m).
Testa My Patience is another extraordinarily consistent Testa Rossa product, boasting a superlative record of 11 starts for 5 wins, 4 seconds a third.
With these results in the first month of the new season Testa Rossa is well placed to emulate if not better his successive fourth placings on the national sires roster by number of individual winners.