Date posted August 29, 2010 | Posted by Greg Irvine | Filed under
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Racing and Breeding,
Testa RossaSistine Angel’s march toward the Group One Thousand Guineas kicked away in style when she scored a brilliant win in the Group 3 HDF McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Facing the starter for the first time since three unlucky runs in the autumn, Sistine Angel has always been a filly held in high regard by her trainer Andrew Noblet.
The West Australian bred and sold group winner earned black type as a two-year-old when she ran third in the Blue Sapphire Stakes.
Having her first run as a three-year-old, Sistine Angel produced an outstanding burst in the straight to come from last and give her rivals a start and a beating.
“It was a hard task first up,” Noblet said. “She’s come back from her last preparation really well and to do that first up is a great effort.”
Noblet said the filly should not have been going into Saturday’s event as a maiden.
“She copped a big knock here one day and probably could have nearly won.”
“And then at Flemington they went really slow up front and she got back and ran on well.”
The future looks bright for the Testa Rossa filly with Noblet saying she would make plenty of good natural improvement.
“She’s come back pretty well. But she’s got a bit of improvement in her.”
“Her coat still has to come through. So hopefully she progresses well.”
“I’m glad she got a bit of an infection in her leg last week as we could have run her at the Valley and she would have had no hope.”
“We landed here in a red hot race and it’s surprised me how well she’s gone first up.”
“She’s a nice horse and hopefully she can go a long way.”
“The Thousand Guineas is her main aim. The Oaks isn’t really in her plans.”
“We might wait for the autumn before we look at a longer trip.”
“She’s got a good constitution. She’s a tough little horse.”
Noblet purchased the filly in Perth last year and said she was one of the nicest fillies at the Belmont Park based auction.
“I bought her in Perth and she’s come a long way back here. It’s nice to have a nice horse.”
At the post Sistine Angel held a widening head margin over the runner-up Servant (by Commands).
Another half-length away in third place was Intencion (by Commands).
Bred by Warren Gellard in Kalgoorlie, Sistine Angel was purchased by Noblet for $60,000 at last year’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
Sistine Angel, by Testa Rossa is stakes winner number 29 for the Vinery based stallion and one of two winners, from two runners, produced by the unraced Peintre Celebre mare Famous Painter.
Famous Painter is a daughter of the stakes winning and top producing Rancher mare Rancheetah - making her a half-sister to the stakes winners Gallopini and Land Speed Record.
Her latest yearling, an attractive chestnut colt by AJC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Excites, is being prepared for February’s 2011 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
