Testashadow toughs it out to take $1 million Magic Millions Cup

Testashadow
Testashadow edges out rivals in a four-way finish to win Magic Millions Cup

TESTASHADOW kept the family tradition of success in the Magic Millions Cup alive after surviving a blanket finish to win the $1 million race at the huge price of $41 at Crownbet.com.au.

The daughter of the 1999 Magic Millions Cup winner Testa Rossa surged from the middle of the field towards the fence and found the line strongly to win in a photo finish ahead of Perfect Dare who returned a mammoth $15.20 at Sportsbet.com.au.

The quinella returned an enormous $1,061 at WilliamHill.com.au.

Snippets Land rallied home late to round out the placings and return $2.70 at WilliamHill.com.au.

It was a disappointing race for favourite backers as defending Magic Millions Cup winner Lucky Hussler never fired a shot in the race and finished in the second half of the field.

Gary Portelli was full of praise for apprentice jockey Deanne Panya, who repaid the trainer’s faith to hand him his first winner of Magic Millions day.

“Great ride by the girl, this horse runs so well for her,” said trainer Gary Portelli.

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“She’s an apprentice, took the odds to put her on this horse. She’s won a few on him now.”

The woman of the hour was grateful in the aftermath of the race for the faith the trainer had shown in her.

“I’m so happy that he’s stuck with me, I really owe him big time.

“(Testashadow) fought hard, just kept going. He had all the fight in him.”

Portelli said without the rapport that Panya has with Testashadow, the result may have been different.

“What a ride. The speed was on, she backed out of it she came the corner cantering and I thought he was home but he just kept ducking in a few times,” he said.

“She had to stop and straighten him a few times and on the line’s where it counts, (but) I have to say watching it live I was reserved to getting a second, third or fourth spot.”

The horse defied the outside track bias to claim the win, but the jockey was not certain she had claimed the win until it was confirmed a minute after the race.

“I actually didn’t (think I had won) I thought we might have got done on a head-bobber on the outside so I wasn’t sure what to think after the line.” the winning jockey said.

“I wasn’t as happy until I came back here and saw the screen and our name was up on the board.”

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