UPDATE 13/10/04 - Testa Rossa is certainly firing. His 2 year old filly Tevella ran second in her first start in today's $75,500 Adairs Stks (L/R) at Caulfield.

I imagine quite a number of broodmare owners will be doing a late rush to this stallion's book as a result. Where does he stand again? Ah yes, Yallambee Stud in Victoria. One only hopes he has the opportunity to STAY there and allow the stud farm and the State of Victoria to benefit rather than shifting him to NSW (as seems to be the habit in recent years whenever a good stallion appears from the ranks: Mossman, Encosta de Lago, General Nediym come to mind ...)

The colonials (in terms of them being born and raced in Australia) made quite a showing in today's 2 year old races actually: Arrowfield's Redoute's Choice sired Fullazz, the winner of the aforementioned race at Caulfield. The third filly past the post was Red Hot Mamma - sired by General Nediym. In the 2 year old equivalent colts race (the Hardy Amies Stakes [L/R]) the colonial sires Rory's Jester and Dangerous sired the 2 placegetters.

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October 3 2004, 9.33pm

Oh what a start to the 2 year old racing season if you're a proponent of the colonial sire!

Warwick Farm 25 September

In the $75K BREEDERS’ PLATE (LR) for 2 year olds colts and geldings over 1000m, colonial stallions sired the first 3 across the line: SNITZEL (Redoute's Choice ex Snippets’ Lass), Banished (Snippets – Black List) and Al Samer (Redoute’s Choice ex My Lady’s Key (USA)). The time was also run in race record time: 57.43s. The first four horses to cross the line were all purchased from the Magic Millions auctions.

Toowoomba 25 September

The first 2 year old race in Queensland, the $40,000 Hopeful Plate (1000m), saw Iglesia's son Foolish (ex Augustine) take the honours.

Flemington 2 October

The $100,000 Maribyrnong Trial Stakes-LR over 1000m was the first 2 year old race in Victoria. Not phased by the appearance of the blue-blooded (and impressive trial winner) Danerich (Danehill ex Millrich – winner of the G3 Sweet Embrace Stakes and placed in the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes) who had beaten him home 4.5 lengths in a trial on September 17, the race belonged to the son of Testa Rossa -Rossa Glory (who also happened to be the first Melbourne runner for Testa Rossa). In a nice touch, Rossa Glory is trained by Ray Lawson. Ray's son Dean prepared Testa Rossa for his six Gr.1 race victories. Rossa Glory was purchased from the Inglis Premier Sale.

(Of note, another Testa Rossa filly ROSAMIA (ex Novajinsky) ran 3rd in the Fitton Insurance Hopeful Plate at Toowoomba on the 25/9)