Ortensia was a brilliant winner of The Galaxy at Randwick a fortnight ago and her sire Testa Rossa can bring up a Group 1 double with Red Colossus (SAJC Derby) and Rostova (Goodwood) at Morphettville this Sunday.

Red Colossus (3g Testa Rossa – Palace Glow by Palace Music) will go into the classic after Listed wins in the Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m) and Chairmans Stakes (2000m).  The Chairmans has been a traditional lead-up to the Derby with Mummify (2003), Markham (1997) and Rebel Raider (2009) all completing the double.

Red Colossus is raced in partnership by David Moodie who is still on Cloud 9 after Crystal Lily’s Golden Slipper triumph.  The Contract Racing gelding is nothing like his older half-sister Nediym’s Glow (General Nediym).  She was a flying machine winning the G3 VRC Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes and MRC Blue Diamond Prelude.

The stamina in the bottom half of his pedigree comes from second-dam Starlit Queen (Sir Tristram) who is a sister to G1 NZ Oaks winner (Our) Starline.   
“Red Colossus takes a long time to get into his rhythm and the SAJC Derby trip will be ideal,” trainer Greg Eurell said.  “The best part is that he’s bouncing after the Chairmans.  It is unbelievable how well he’s done.  I couldn’t fault him.  He’s spot-on.

“The more he races the better he’s going to get and we haven’t seen the best of him yet.  He will be an even stronger racehorse next preparation.”

Testa Rossa sired 2006 SAJC Derby winner Testafiable in his first crop and he will also be represented in this year’s classic by Token Of Honour.

Token Of Honour (3g By Testa Rossa – Princess Plume by Military Plume) was runner-up to Red Colossus in the Chairmans Stakes on April 17 and he bred to keep improving.  The Lindsay Park galloper is a half-brother to six winners including Visual Displays (Scenic) who was a Listed winner at Flemington and Caulfield in 1999.

Rostova can complete a G1 double for Testa Rossa at Morphettville.  The Steve Richards trained mare scored a brilliant victory in the Robert Sangster Stakes in March and will be hard to hold out when she returns to Adelaide for the time-honoured Goodwood this Sunday.

She was a last-start fifth in The Galaxy when Steve King elected to stay on the rails at Randwick.  She raced up to the leaders in the final furlong but was bloused out by Ortensia who found a fast lane skimming the outside fence.

Rostova (2f Testa Rossa – Space Talk by Anabaa) was sold by Yallambee Stud for $80,000 at the 2006 Inglis Melbourne Premier.  She has now banked $735,000 and the Goodwood is worth another $300K.

Her dam Space Talk has visited God’s Own for the last three years.  Her 2yo is a colt named Galaxy Talk and he is also in work with Richards at Flemington.  God’s Own was a Group 1 winner of the Caulfield Guineas and he stands at Eliza Park in conjunction with Yallambee.  

Testa Rossa started his stud career at Yallambee Stud and all his 45 stakes performers to date were conceived in Victoria.  He transferred to Vinery in 2006 and his first black-type performer from the Hunter Valley might also arrive at Morphettville this Sunday.

Caulfield trainer Andrew Noblet will float Sistine Angel to Adelaide for the Listed Dequetteville Stakes after she impressed with a fast-finish behind Bullbars at Caulfield a fortnight ago.

Sistine Angel (2f Testa Rossa – Famous Painter by Peintre Celebre) was a $60,000 buy from Alwyn Park at the 2009 Perth Magic Millions.  She is from an unraced half-sister to G2 QTC Cup winner Gallopini (Canny Lad) and Listed VRC Maribyrnong Trial winner Land Speed Record (Bluebird).

Testa Rossa’s other Vinery juveniles include Patinack Farm’s Morphettville winner Reventon and Stuart Ramsey’s Moonee Valley winner Panipique.  They both finished fourth in Group races earlier this year.

His Newcastle based colt Testarhythm was runner-up at Rosehill in January.  And Testa Renaya, who races in the same colours as Shoot Out, looks an early winner after being placed twice in Queensland recently.