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As a 3yo, Testa Rossa has had a terrific spring campaign. He resumed in Sydney, winning both the San Domenico and Up and Coming Stakes, before returning to Melbourne where he then ran second to Spargo in a controversial Ascot Vale Stakes, which failed to live up to its match-race billing between Redoute's Choice (4th) and Testa Rossa. Testa Rossa then recorded a terrific win in the G1 VicHealth Cup with Redoute's Choice 3rd, and ran a mighty race for second in the G1 Caulfield Stakes to his rival. Both colts then ran in the Cox Plate, and although most believed Redoute's Choice would have Testa Rossa's measure over the longer distance, Testa Rossa ran another brilliant race, and actually passed Redoute's Choice in the straight to finish a tremendous 4th to the great Sunline. His trainer Dean Lawson (who is a very nice chap, letting me photograph his colt in the pool as you can see below) is understandably proud of his stable star. Testa Rossa returned in the 2000 autumn carnival, and scored perhaps an unexpected first up victory in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes, over 1000m at Flemington. He next started in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes, over 1400m, where he convincingly trounced his rival Redoute's Choice who ran third, with Miss Pennymoney, the winner of the Australian Stakes, second. The filly went on to take the Newmarket Handicap at her next start. The wheels unfortunately fell off when Testa Rossa contracted a virus, aborting plans to run him in the Chipping Norton Stakes in Sydney. The colt had a couple of quiet weeks, and then journeyed to Sydney, but 2 poor runs followed, in the Phar Lap Stakes and the George Ryder Stakes, where he ran lengths below his true ability. Hopefully this wonderful colt will make a full recovery, and we'll see him back to his best in the spring. It would be a tragedy to loss him as well as Redoute's Choice! |
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