Coming into Saturday's $150,000 Listed Port Adelaide Guineas
(2500m) at Morphettville, the Testa Rossa gelding Time To Test had won or
finished second in 12 of his 18 starts without being tested at stakes level.
Ridden by Damien Thornton, the Tony McEvoy-trained 6yo took
the step up in his stride, repelling the challenge of the Darren Weir-trained
favourite High Church (IRE) (High Chaparral) by three-quarter of a length with Unfurl
(Raise The Flag) three lengths back in third.
Bred by Parsons Creek Farm, Time To Test advances his
overall record to 7 wins and 6 seconds from 19 starts for earnings of $308,990.
Consigned by Southern Cross Breeders to the 2012 Inglis
Premier Yearling sale, Time To Test was purchased by McEvoy Mitchell
Racing for $25,000.
He is the second foal of the unraced Elusive Quality mare
Silk Shantung whose dam, the stakes-placed Danehill mare Silk Veil, is a sister
to stakes winner and Group I placed Danasia (the dam of Group I Rosehill Guineas
winner Zabrasive) and a half-sister to the dam of Group I AJC Flight Stakes
winner Cheeky Choice.
Purchased by Gervase Park Stud for $15,000 at the 2016 Magic
Millions National Broodmare sale, Silk Shantung has a weanling colt by Star
Witness and was covered by Alfred Nobel (IRE) last spring.
Time To Test becomes the 62nd stakes winner for
Vinery Stud's evergreen Testa Rossa who will stand at $16,500 in 2017.
