Fontelina joined an honour-roll of all-time greats with back-to-back victories in the G2 Yellowglen Stakes (1200m) on the first day of the Melbourne Cup carnival.

The Testa Rossa gelding burst through a gap at the business end of the straight-six sprint to defeat Spirit Of Boom for the second year in a row.

Fontelina (5g Testa Rossa – Decipher by Timber Country) carried 54kg last year and doubled up despite having to shoulder 57.5kg.  “I was happy with the weight – he’s at the top of his game,” trainer Anthony Cummings said.  “I was confident he would run another great race – he loves the straight.”

Champions Amounis, Phar Lap, Chatham, Ajax, Noholme,Vain and Placid Ark all won the Yellowglen when it was known as the Linlithgow Stakes.  No horse had score successive victories since Scamanda in 1974-75.

Fontelina first arrived over the horizon with a brilliant victory in the Listed Doomben Slipper in May 2011.  He was bred by Gerry Harvey’s Baramul Stud and was a $135,000 graduate of the Washpool Lodge draft at the 2010 Magic Millions HIT Sale.

Vinery sire Testa Rossa got him from Decipher, a daughter of Electrique (Zephyr Zip) who was a Group 1 winner of the 1991-92 AJC Flight Stakes and STC Ansett Stakes.  Harvey exported Decipher to New Zealand in 2010 and she has a 2yo colt by Tavistock and a yearling filly by Makfi.

The Yellowglen was Testa Rossa’s second straight-six feature this season following Speediness in the G3 Bobbie Lewis Quality at Flemington in September.

Testa Rossa stands for a $27,500 (inc gst) service fee at Vinery.

– Karl Patterson