With earnings of over $1,300,000 it's no surprise the Testa Rossa gelding Testashadow is a stable favourite in the Portelli yard.
The 6yo gelding loves to get his toe into the ground and he found conditions to suit at a drizzly Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Sent off a $20 chance under Jason Collett, Testashadow gave everything he had in a busy finish to the Group III Festival Stakes (1500m) where he inched out Mister Sea Wolf with Red Excitement a neck back in third. (photo Steve Hart )
The winner of the valuable Magic Millions Cup last year, Testashadow advances his record to 8 wins, 6 seconds and 5 thirds from 37 starts with earnings of $1,320,585.
"I couldn't have asked for much better conditions really," Collett said.
"A dry track they probably would have been a little too quick but a bit of give in the ground and the rain coming down made it perfect."
"It's just good to see him back in the winners' circle," Portelli said. "He's a great horse to our stable, we love him.
"He's getting a bit older and taking a little longer to perform.
"At the 600m I was a little worried, he was starting to ask him for an effort and there wasn't a real lot there but he kept at him and got the job done.
"It's fantastic for Elite thoroughbreds and all the owners - he's been a great horse for us."
"I think we've got to head to the Villiers.
"The plan was to have a couple of runs and go to the Gold Coast again ready for the 1400m fresh but I'll see how we go in the Villiers."
A $50,000 purchase by Adrian Allan from the Eliza Park draft at the 2013 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Testashadow is the second foal of the 6-time winning Flying Spur mare Moonlight Shadow whose stakes-placed dam Crestfallen is a half-sister to the dam of Zoustar.
Moonlight Shadow has a 2yo filly by Eurozone named Flight Zone who was a $30,000 purchase by Elite Thoroughbred at the MM March Yearling Sale. She has a yearling filly foal by Love Conquers All and a colt foal by Bel Esprit.
Vinery Stud's evergreen Testa Rossa has seven catalogued for the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and four on offer at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
