Testashadow Claims Boilover Win in Magic Millions Cup

Testashadow has produced a career-best performance to date on the Gold Coast this afternoon; claiming the Magic Millions Cup (1400m) in a photo finish.

Testashadow drifted to Magic Millions Cup odds of $41 by jump this afternoon, but did his chances of beating the trend no harm whatsoever when jumping well and taking an ideal position in transit on the heels of Monsieur Gustave.

Remaining on the inside of the track rounding onto the final straight, apprentice jockey Deanne Panya led the Testa Rossa gelding forward and led the field with 200m to go; maintaining a strong enough sprint to the line to beat Perfect Dare and Snippets Land in a photo.

Trainer Gary Portelli said that he had conceded the race win to one of Testashadow’s rivals before the photo was released, but was thrilled his horse was able to hold on.

“It was a great ride by the girl – this horse runs so well for Deanne Panya,” Portelli said.

“I took the odds to put her back on this horse because she’s won a few on him now and what a ride!

“The speed was on, she backed out of it, she came to the corner cantering and I thought he was home but he kept ducking in a few times, she had to stop and straighten.

“On the line is where it counts and I have to say, watching it live I was resigned to getting a second, third or fourth spot.”

Panya’s ride was arguably the difference in success this afternoon and the apprentice hoop was thrilled to repay Portelli for the faith he has shown in her ability.

“I am super happy and over the moon,” Panya said.

“Gary Portelli has just been a lovely man and I’m so happy he’s stuck with me, I owe him big time.

“He fought hard and just kept going, he had all the fight in him.

“I didn’t think he’d won, I thought we might have been done by a head bob on the outside. I wasn’t sure what to think after the line until I came back here, saw the screen and out name was up on the board!”

In being crowned the Magic Millions Cup winner, Testashadow has now posted a commendable seven wins and eight minors through twenty-nine career starts.

2017 Magic Millions Cup Results

Finish	No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Margin	Bar.	Weight	Starting Price
1	9	TESTASHADOW	Gary Portelli	Ms Deanne Panya (a)	–	11	54kg	$31
2	15	PERFECT DARE	Matthew Dunn	Jim Byrne	0.1L	10	54kg	$61
3	7	SNIPPETS LAND	Peter & Paul Snowden	Blake Shinn	0.2L	6	54.5kg	$8
4	11	OFF THE RAILS	Bjorn Baker	Christian Reith	0.3L	15	54kg	$41
5	2	MOST IMPORTANT	Tony Gollan	Robbie Fradd	0.8L	4	56kg	$4.80
6	6	STRAWBERRY BOY	Chris Waller	Kerrin McEvoy	1.1L	14	55kg	$14
7	1	LUCKY HUSSLER	Darren Weir	Brad Rawiller	1.2L	12	61kg	$3F
8	3	HOPFGARTEN	Robert Heathcote	Larry Cassidy	1.3L	5	55.5kg	$8
9	5	SIR MOMENTS	Steven O’dea	Paul Hammersley	1.4L	3	55.5kg	$26
10	12	LOYALTY MAN	Michael Moroney	Craig Williams	1.9L	9	54kg	$21
11	10	SNOOPY	Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes	Dwayne Dunn	2L	8	54kg	$11
12	14	THE ILIAD	John & Chris Meagher	Ronald Stewart	3.5L	7	54kg	$101
13	18e	MONSIEUR GUSTAVE	Darryl Hansen	Luke Tarrant	3.7L	2	54kg	$21
14	8	BACHMAN	Gerald Ryan	Tim Clark	4.1L	1	54kg	$17
15	17e	BREWERY	Gerald Ryan	James Orman	10.6L	13	54kg	$41