A Magic Millions Carnival bid next month in Queensland will be on the line for the Gary Portelli-trained Testashadow on Boxing Day in the Group 3 $150,000 Summer Cup (2000m) at Royal Randwick.
Testashadow contests the Summer Cup on Boxing Day on way to the Gold Coast’s Magic Millions Race Day next month. Photo: Steve Hart.
The Boxing Day races in Sydney next Tuesday are headlined by the Summer Cup handicap clash, the race attracting 15 early entries.
Among them is Testa Rossa six-year-old Testashadow who is looking to earn a shot at the richer races at the Gold Coast Racecourse on Magic Millions Day on January 13.
The gelding narrowly won the Group 3 $150,000 Festival Stakes (1500m) two back at Rosehill Gardens on December 2 before things went amiss last Saturday.
Testashadow jumped a $19 roughie in the Group 2 $250,000 Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Randwick and was far from disgraced when only one and a half lengths away sixth to the Queensland-trained winner Crack Me Up.
Having his 39th career start next Tuesday in the Summer Cup, Testashadow will be looking to bounce back to winning form and confirm his fourth straight appearance on the Gold Coast Magic Millions Race Day.
In 2015 he finished second to Deiheros in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) before a seventh in the Magic Millions Cup (1400m) behind Lucky Hussler in 2016.
This summer gone, Testashadow lined-up in the Restricted Listed $1 million Magic Millions Cup (1400m) again and this time came away victorious just defeating Perfect Dare home for the win.
In 2018 it is a longer distanced Gold Coast target Portelli has in mind naming the $1 million Magic Millions Trophy (2200m) as the target should the gallop be competitive over the Summer Cup distance (2000m) next week.
“If he runs a solid 2000m in the Summer Cup then he will go to the Magic Millions and run in the 2200m race,” Portelli told The Daily Telegraph.
To date Testashadow has never won over further than a mile (1600m) and in his only 2000m test to date he ran three lengths back for second to Allergic in a Benchmark 93 at Randwick in February of 2016.
Portelli is gearing up for a notable assault on the Magic Millions races at the Gold Coast including targeting the Restricted Listed $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) with his progressive filly Secret Lady.
Winner of Rosehill’s $150,000 Golden Gift (1100m) back in late November, the daughter of Choisir showed she was ready to go again with a smart Warwick Farm trial win against the three-year-olds over 792m on Tuesday morning.
“I was hoping to see her take a sit but she is just too fast,” Portelli said after watching Secret Lady hold out Goldfinch in the hit-out, the runner-up crossing four lengths ahead of the next over Excelling.
“She is coming along nicely and actually pulled up a bit big after the trial.
“But that is what I like about his filly, I can aim her at a race and not worry about her losing condition.
“My worry is I have to get it [condition] off her rather than worry about her losing too much.
“I can give her the work she needs to be right for a race, it is a great position to be in.
“I think we are in a good spot with a good, classy filly.”
Secret Agenda currently sits as a $21 shot in pre-field Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au.au.