Owners Graham and Linda Huddy will have more than Shoot Out to cheer home for Group One glory if Caloundra trainer Col Williamson gets his way with impressive Doomben winner Testa Renaya.
The Huddys paid $110,000 for the daughter of Testa Rossa at the Magic Millions sales but it took the filly 15 starts before she broke her maiden status with a 1-1/2 length win over Starlistic in Wednesday’s ITW Polymers & Fluids Plate (1200m).
Williamson, who used to break in horses for the late Tommy Smith, runs the Huddys’ property at Peachester Lodge in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
“I’ve never had a team like I have now to look after since the days I worked for Tommy Smith,” Williamson said.
“I’m half-thinking of having a go in the Queensland Oaks with this filly.
“She’s been placed from 1000 metres to 2000 metres but she’s a genuine stayer.”
The Group One Queensland Oaks (2400m) will be run at Eagle Farm in June.
Shoot Out, last year’s Group One AJC Australian Derby winner, is set to make his comeback in next month’s Group One TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick where one of his rivals is likely to be champion mare Black Caviar.
The four-year-old will then run in the Group One All-Aged Stakes at Randwick before returning home to Queensland for the Group Two Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast and the Group One Doomben Cup (2020m) in May.
His last run for the winter will be in the Group Two Eagle Farm Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm in June.
Williamson almost missed putting in the final bid for Testa Renaya in the sale ring when he noticed a scar on the filly’s off-hind hock.
“I almost didn’t bid for her when I saw the scar around her hock,” he said.
“I thought she may have gone through a wire fence but I was assured she hadn’t.
“The scar was from a cord that was tied around her leg while she was being born.”
Trainer Rob Heathcote also may be tempted to chase winter carnival riches with Teepoh after the three-year-old gave him a winning treble from his four runners.
Teepoh, steeping up to a middle distance for the first time in his career, wore down the Brian Smith-trained Harish for a long neck win in the Nitto Plate (2020m).
“I’m not surprised he won. From day one he’s always shown me ability,” Heathcote said.
“It was only a maiden but it was a good effort considering he was stepping up to 2020 metres at only his third run run this campaign.”
Heathcote, whose other winners were Trump in the Blackwoods Brisbane Bloodstock Plate and Mr Nicholas in the CRC Handicap, believes Teepoh could measure up to the Group Three Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) at Eagle Farm in May.
He won won the Grand Prix with Bell Academy in 2008.
AAP TURF
