No Everest for Perth Star

Testa Rossa mare Enticing Star extended her unbeaten run to 7 from 7 at Belmont on Saturday and the Vinery sire will be back in the spotlight when his stakes-winning sprinter Ellicazoom parades at the Perth Magic Millions Winter Sale this Sunday.

Enticing Star started a $1.22 favourite in the Furphy Hcp (1200m) and gave her rivals weight and a beating when stepping out for final time this season.  Owner-breeder Bob Peters dropped a bombshell after the latest victory by confirming he had received offers to start her in the $13 million The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 13.

“One of the slot-holders has called a couple of times but it won’t happen,” Peters said.  “She hasn’t been up against anything like those horses in The Everest.  We will bring her back after a spell and keep to the shorter races at the Ascot carnival.”

Perth’s leading owner-breeder has supported Testa Rossa throughout his stud career at Vinery with pleasing results courtesy of Ranger (Lee-Steere Stakes Gr.2) and Dark Alert (Pinjarra Cup LR).

Enticing Star (4m Testa Tossa – Favourite Star by More Than Ready) is closely related his Group 2 winners Perfect Jewel (WA Guineas) and Star Exhibit (Perth Cup).  Peters bought into the family at the 2001 Inglis Easter yearling sale when he purchased their second dam Lady Ashford (Royal Academy) for $130,000 from Vinery.

Ellicazoom is a late supplementary entry for the Perth Winter Sale and will attract interstate attention when she goes under the hammer on Sunday for Ridgeport Syndicate manager Santo Guagliardo.

A $180,000 buy at the 2015 Gold Coast Magic Millions, she is a Testa Rossa half-sister to New Zealand stakes performer El Doute.  Their dam Ellicorsam was a Group 1 winner of 2006 Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville.

Ellicazoom will be offered as a racing and breeding prospect.  She won the 2016 Burgess Queen Stakes LR at Ascot and in her first eastern prep was beaten a lip in Angus Armanasco Stakes Gr.2 at Caulfield and Kewney Stakes Gr.2 at Flemington.

Testa Rossa maintained a winning strike-rate of 73% throughout his stud career at Vinery.  He’s now in semi-retirement after covering 26 mares last year.

TESTA ROSSA
John and Gill Cappellin visit the champ last year at Vinery