Vinery star Testa Rossa broke new ground on Monday by siring his first ever stakes winner in New Zealand.

Australian-bred filly Testa Secret had no trouble adding the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) to her record at Ellerslie.  The Kevin Gray trained filly had won her maiden at Awapuni on debut in April.

Well ridden by Lisa Allpress, Testa Secret settled midfield before scouting wide on the turn.  She produced a smart turn-of-foot to run down Elusive Red (Elusive City) by three-quarters of a length.

Both of her wins have been on heavy footing but trainer Kevin Gray is confident the filly will be just as competitive on good ground.  She will now head to the spelling paddock before returning for the spring classics.

Testa Secret (2f Testa Rossa – Acacian Secret by Silver Deputy) is from a Canadian bred mare and is a half-sister to the winners Dembelis (Woodman), Dance Move (Danehill Dancer) and Bejeka (Rock of Gibraltar).

She was offered by Hallmark Stud at the 2010 Karaka Premier Sale but failed to reach a $70,000 reserve.  Her dam Acacian Secret is owned by Anton Koolman and she foaled another Testa Rossa filly last year.

Testa Rossa has sired 34 individual stakes winners among 371 individual winners at a 71% strike-rate.  His black-type list is headed by Rostova, Ortensia, Testafiable, Sistine Angel, Vormista and Red Colossus.