First Stakes Win for Testa Rossa's Deep Image

Mark Smith - Saturday December 14

Purchased for $25,000 at the Inglis May Monthly Online Sale, the Robert Heathcote-trained gelding Deep Image earned that back with interest with his first stakes win in Saturday’s Listed Lough Neagh Stakes at Eagle Farm.

The 6yo Testa Rossa gelding has won three and placed in two of his five starts for Heathcote.

With Robbie Fradd in the saddle, Deep Image was eased across to lead from his wide barrier and he refused to give it up defeating Looks Like Elvis (All American) by three-quarters of a length with one and a half lengths to Chapter And Verse (Rothesay) in third.

"I have been saying for some time that Deep Image is all class and would win good races. But he had to do too much work from the inside barrier at his last start," Heathcote told AAP.

"I know it sounds strange but I knew if Robbie could work to the lead at his own pace today he could get some easy sectionals.

"That is the way it turned out and he was very strong on the line."Deep Image as a yearling

"Right from the time he won a trial for us I have had a wrap on him. I think he can probably go on to win an even better race.

Purchased by David Vandyke for $150,000 out of the Vinery Stud draft at the 2015 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Deep Image advances his record to 7 wins, 2 seconds and 3 thirds from 19 starts with earnings of $291,950.

Deep Image is the best of five winners from as many to race out of the unraced Redoute’s Choice mare Starwish.

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The win will be welcomed by Jamieson Park who will offer an Iffraaj (GB) filly out of Starfish at the upcoming NZB Karaka Yearling Sale as Lot 311.

Jamieson Park purchased Starwish for $200,000 at the 2015 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

A sister to the stakes-placed Starfish and half-sister to  Listed ATC Gimcrack Stakes winner Brilliant Bisc, Starwish is a daughter of the Group 1 MVRC Australia Stakes winner Stella Cadente.

Starwish was covered by Iffraaj (GB) again last season.

Deep Image becomes the 66th stakes-winner for Vinery Stud’s long-serving Testa Rossa who earned an honourable pension in January.

The son of Perugino has two foals, both colts, on the ground this season from four mares covered last spring.

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Race Result - Tab Lough Neagh Stakes LR 1300m

Eagle Farm Track: Good(3) Time: 1:15.12
1
Deep Image
- 6g Testa Rossa (AUS) x Starwish (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: R L Heathcote Rdr: R Fradd 54
Testa Rossa
2
0.8
Looks Like Elvis
- 5g All American (AUS) x Savalook (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: B J Dais Rdr: B N Stewart 56
3
2.3
Chapter And Verse
- 5g Rothesay (AUS) x McFly (AUS) (Perugino (USA))
Tnr: Desleigh Forster Rdr: M R Du Plessis 55.5
4
2.4
Tyzone
- 6g Written Tycoon (AUS) x Rezonet (AUS) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: A J & T Edmonds Rdr: Ryan Maloney 59.5
5
2.5
Constant Flight
- 5g Written Tycoon (AUS) x Littlemiss Sandown (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: David Vandyke Rdr: Jake Bayliss 54
6
3.7
River Racer
- 6m Hidden Dragon (AUS) x Royal Yangtze (AUS) (Royal Academy (USA))
Tnr: L G Ross Rdr: M Mc Gillivray 54.5
7
4.9
Removal
- 6g Pluck (USA) x Enemy Dragline (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: J C Smerdon Rdr: D Dunn 54
8
5.0
Miss Fabulass
- 4m Frankel (GB) x Samantha Miss (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: A Mallyon 54.5
9
5.2
Reckless Choice
- 5g Choisir (AUS) x Alacer (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Steven O'Dea Rdr: Boris Thornton 54
10
6.5
Sharpe Hussler
- 8g Husson (ARG) x Lost In Dubai (NZ) (Dubai Destination (USA))
Tnr: D R Ward Rdr: Luke Tarrant 54
11
7.7
Monsieur Gustave
- 7g Al Maher (AUS) x Saigon Moonlight (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: D J Hansen Rdr: M Hellyer 56
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