Cups future tipped for St Leger victor
A son of Atlante, Testify Me was tasked with the challenge of contesting Robbie Patterson's classy trio of Mary Louise, Nom De Plume and The Underbelly, the latter a scorching TAB tote favourite paying just $1.80 at the jump.
Fellow New Plymouth trainer Janelle Millar's charge held the fourth line of betting at $9.60, backing up from close-up second placed finish behind Orlov over 1 5⁄16 m at the course a week prior.
Regular rider Chris Dell has partnered Testify Me in six of his last seven race-day appearances, and was thrilled to deliver the victory for Millar.
"I do a lot of work behind the scenes for Janelle, so I've had a long association with this horse. It's great to get a big win like this," he said.
Despite the narrow winning margin, Dell had been confident at the post after the race had panned out as intended.
"He jumped well and I put him a bit handier than I was last-start, being a 1 5⁄8 m race they are quite tactical affairs, and there wasn't a huge amount of pace on paper in the field," he said.
"I settled in behind the hot-favourite in The Underbelly, and just followed him everywhere he went. I did hit a flat-spot at the 3 f, but that's just the way my horse races, and he kept coming up underneath me down the straight.
"I let a scream out because I knew I'd got there, even though it was by the barest of margins, he'd got his head down at the right time. I was pretty confident at the post."
Out of a Volksraad mare Cherry Bomb, Millar co-bred and shares in the ownership of the gelding, who has earned over $130,000 in a 16-start career.
"Janelle's very good with her horses, she places them very well, and she definitely will be looking after him as he's a Cups horse for the future. What he's lacking in starts, he's making up with wins," Dell said.
"We'll hopefully be targeting those 2 m races next year, he's shown that he can get the 1 5⁄8 m distance, which is one of the hardest battles.
"I'm not sure what she has in store for him in the immediate future, but I know I'll be happy to be on him next start."
