Testa Rossa gelding Ranger has been installed an opening favourite for the G2 Perth Cup on New Year’s Day.  The four year-old was a very impressive last start winner of the LR WA St Leger for leading owner-breeder Bob Peters.

Ranger heads the Cup market at $8 followed by Impressive Jeuney, Beijing Boy and Capecover ($10), God Has Spoken ($11), Ma Chienne ($13) and Mighty Rossa ($14).

Peters and his wife Sandra have won three Perth Cups starting with Field Officer (Old Spice) in 1993.  They followed up with Crown Prosecutor (Grand Lodge) in 2005 and Lords Ransom (Jeune) this year.

Ranger (4g Testa Rossa – Marrich Bay by Old Spice) will continue his lead-up to Perth’s premier staying event in the ATA Handicap at Ascot on Wednesday, December 22.  “He hasn’t had a lot of racing and is a very relaxed horse,” Peters explained.  “Testa Rossa is best known for his sprinters like Ortenaia and Rostova but he has also sired South Australian Derby winner Testafiable.”

Peters bred Ranger from Marrich Bay and she has been a wonderful producer with Group 1 performers Hardrada (Marooned) and Storm Alert (Metal Storm) among her foals.  

Hardrada was runner-up to Old Fashion in the 2002 Railway Stakes and won it the following year when it was run at Belmont Park.  Storm Alert was beaten a nose and a nose by Hollow Bullet and Kylikwong in the 2004 Victorian Oaks and the following year she won the G3 Cockram Stakes at Caulfield.

Peters also raced Marrich Bay’s brother Lawmaker and the gelding carried his cerise and white silks to victories in the Belmont Classic and the Goldfields Triple Crown comprising the Kalgoorlie, Boulder and Coolgardie Cups.

Peters has an unnamed 2yo brother to Ranger and Marrich Bay’s yearling is a filly by Danewin.

Testa Rossa stands at Vinery and he has a strong second-string chance in the Perth Cup with this year’s Belmont Guineas winner Mighty Rossa.

Mighty Rossa (4g Testa Rossa – No Mystery by El Qahira) was beaten less than two lengths by Ranger in the WA St Leger and his dam won up to 2040m at Moonee Valley.  His older half-brothers No Trouble (Dangerous), Captanpauli (Hemingway) and No Dispute (King of Prussia) have won up to 2200m in Victoria.