THE newly gelded Testa Rossa son Fontelina looks set to realise his full potential after scoring a narrow yet impressive win in the ATC Ascend Sales Trophies Handicap (1200m) at Canterbury this afternoon.
The Anthony Cummings trained 3YO proved too strong for hot favourite Said Com ($1.70) in a driving finish despite carrying 59kg with the Lonhro gelding Prosperity Aethon a further 1 3/4-lens back in third.
Fontelina showed considerable promise early in his career which was highlighted with an emphatic 2yo victory in the Listed BRC Doomben Slipper (1350) in May.
The horse failed to ignite at his next preparation finishing down the track in the San Domenico and Ming Dynasty Stakes at his only two starts in the spring.
“His mind really wasn’t on the job (last preparation) and he’d shown himself to be of stakes quality with a very good win at Doomben,” Cummings said.
“The choice was either to have a failing stallion or a successful racehorse. The owners took the right decision. We gelded him and today shows the benefit of that.”
Cummings said Fontelina could head to Melbourne for a feature Group One contest.
“He’s nominated for the Australian Guineas in Melbourne and we put him in the nominations for the Newmarket as well so we’ll have a talk to Blake (Shinn) and just see how it sorts itself out.
“But he’ll find himself in another stakes race in the not too distant future.”
Fontelina is one of 40 individual stakeswinners sired by Testa Rossa and is from a Timber Country daughter of the Flight Stakes and Vinery Stud Stakes winner, Electrique.
