Testashadow made his first start in a maiden at Canterbury back in February 2014 and finished third behind two horses that would leave their mark at the highest level, Brazen Beau and Hampton Court.
While the son of Testa Rossa has not risen to the heights of those two horses, he has proven a wonderful money-spinner for his devoted band of owners brought together by Elite Thoroughbreds.
With apprentice Deanne Panya in the saddle, the Gary Portelli-trained 5yo gelding had his moment in the sun when winning a thrilling $1 million Woodford Reserve Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast.
With five horses within a length crossing the line, Testashadow defeated Perfect Dare (Fastnet Rock) by a nose with Snippets Land (Snippetson) a nose back in third. (photos Steve Hart)
It was a career highlight for the effervescent Panya who was the only apprentice at the meeting.
"I'm super happy, I'm just over the moon," Panya said.
"Gary (Portelli) has just been a lovely man and I'm so happy he stuck with me, I really owe him big time.
"This horse had all the fight in him but I thought we might've got done in a head-bobber and it wasn't until I came back to the yard and saw our name up on the board that I knew we'd won."
In taking his record to 7 wins, 6 seconds and 2 thirds from 29 starts, Testa Rossa becomes the latest equine millionaire with earnings of $1,191,085.
Portelli said the win held extra significance for connections.
"The colours we've got on are for the Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation because one of the owners is
"This horse runs so well for Deanne,"
"She's an apprentice and we took the odds to put her back on this horse but she'd won a few on him so we were happy."
"But what a ride, the speed was on so she backed out of it and came to the corner cantering and I thought he was home but he just kept ducking in and she had to straighten him a few times."
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 yearling filly by Eurozone and a filly foal by Love Conquers All. She was covered by Bel Esprit last spring.
Vinery Stud's 1999 Magic Millions 2yo Classic hero Testa Rossa has five lots catalogued for the upcoming
