Written June 14
As a firmly established sire, Testa Rossa’s patterns of compatibility can be largely assessed by analysing the pedigrees of the dams of his best progeny.
Testa Rossa’ sire Perugino is a member of the influential GOODY TWO SHOES family. Other members of this line include SADLER’S WELLS, FAIRY KING (sire of ENCOSTA DE LAGO), NUREYEV, NORTHERN METEOR, GEIGER COUNTER, VAL DE LOIR, RIDAN, LORENZACCIO, MARQUIS DE SADE, TATE GALLERY, YEATS, INFLATE, WINDSOR SLIPPER, FOX MYTH, REFORM, CAMPO CATINO, TOPSIDER, FESTIVAL HALL and OPEN DAY. Testa Rossa has produced stakes winners carrying members of this line including SISTINE ANGEL (Nureyev), PANE IN THE GLASS (Yeats), WORDSMITH (Yeats), PANIPIQUE (Nureyev) and TESTA MEZZO (Fairy King).
Testa Rossa’ grandsire Danzig works well with MR. PROSPECTOR line mares. Testa Rossa’s Gr.2 winning daughters VORMISTA (damsire BELLOTTO) and FONTELINA (WOODMAN via TIMBER COUNTRY) are bred on this cross. Other damsires from this line include HUSSONET, RHYTHM, KINGMAMBO, STRAIGHT STRIKE, MACHIAVELLIAN, ELUSIVE QUALITY, UMATILLA, GEIGER COUNTER, EL MOXIE, JADE ROBBERY, DISTORTED HUMOR, END SWEEP, INFLATE, VETTORI and FAPPIANO.
The dam of Gr.1 winner TESTAFIABLE is by PRINCE ECHO, who traces to Mr. Prospector’s sire Raise A Native.
Testa Rossa’s great grandsire Northern Dancer is an ALMAHMOUD family member. Reinforcement of this prepotent female family can be achieved with mares carrying DANEHILL, HALO or MACHIAVELLIAN. Danehill line mares are readily available – Testa Rossa’s Gr.3 winner SPEEDINESS is out of a mare by FLYING SPUR. Of ten runners out of DANEHILL mares, Testa Rossa has had nine winners including one stakes winner to-date. Mares by MORE THAN READY (damsire of Testa Rossa’s Magic Millions winner UNENCUMBERED), DON’T SAY HALO, FUJI KISEKI, SOUTHERN IMAGE, IRGUN and SUNDAY SILENCE provide Halo, while Machiavellian can be sourced with mares by STREET CRY, VETTORI or NO EXCUSE NEEDED.
Testa Rossa has responded well to mares by Danzig’s son ANABAA. Of four runners, two have been stakes winners, including Gr.1 winner ROSTOVA.
Testa Rossa is showing a liking mares carrying LUNCHTIME. Gr.1 winner ORTENSIA is out of a mare by Lunchtime’s grandson PICKNICKER (a son of SNIPPETS). Others carrying this influence include Gr.2 winners FONTELINA and RANGER and Listed winner TESTASCANA.
NIJINSKY and his three quarter brother THE MINSTREL have also worked very well with Testa Rossa. Gr.2 winner TWILIGHT ROYALE carries both these influences, while Gr.3 winner RED COLOSSUS is from a PALACE MUSIC (The Minstrel) mare. Nijinsky II is most easily sourced via mares from ROYAL ACADEMY, YEATS (damsire of PANE IN THE GLASS and WORDSMITH), WESTERN SYMPHONY, LORD OF THE DANCE, CAERLEON and WHISKEY ROAD.
Testa Rossa damsire Sir Dapper, is a son of Vain. The combination with a mare carrying a daughter of VAIN resulted in Gr.2 winner VORMISTA.
Testa Rossa carries speed influence, GREY SOVEREIGN. This is another individual who reacts well to reinforcement. The KENMARE sire line is a ready source (such as KENVAIN, VERGLAS, BARYSHNIKOV and KELTRICE), as well as DASH FOR CASH – who carries Grey Sovereign through his dam – and mares carrying KALA DANCER. Testa Rossa’s Gr.3 winner PUBLISHING is out of a Keltrice mare.
Testa Rossa traces in tail female descent to MARCHETTA. This is also the family of MY BABU and TURN-TO. A source of this line is BETTER BOY, a son of My Babu and CENTURY, a grandson of My Babu. Both these influences have appeared in some of Testa Rossa’s better runners, including Gr.1 winner TESTAFIABLE and Gr.3 winner PUBLISHING. Turn-to can be sourced via the SIR TRISTRAM line (second damsire of RED COLOSSUS). Sir Tristram’s sons include MARAUDING and ZABEEL.
The STAR KINGDOM line appears in some of Testa Rossa’s best progeny. BISCAY, MARSCAY and TODMAN are the prime sources. Another Colonial influence, RORY’S JESTER, has had 23 runners for 16 winners by Testa Rossa, including five stakes performers, headed by Gr.2 winner BLUE GENES.
