Mitchell Pateman experienced many racing highlights as a jockey, but the Listed win of his favourite horse This’ll Testya went to another level in February.
Nearly three weeks after hanging up his saddle, This’Ll Testya gave Pateman his first feature success as a trainer in the Listed Cyril Flower Stakes (1200m) at Ascot.
The brilliant, but challenging mare, who displayed huge potential under previous trainer, Adam Durrant, finally lived up to her potential with the win.
Parked off the leader by jockey, Lucy F Warwick, This’ll Testya burst clear inside the final 200m and held sway over glamour mare, Kissonallforcheeks.
With a terrific fresh record of three wins from four starts, Pateman says This’ll Testa is going just as well now as she was when she won the Cyril Flower Stakes.
He’s confident the daughter of Testa Rossa can get the job done again.
“She’s ticking the right boxes at the moment and fingers crossed we’ve got the same horse we had last start,” Pateman told The Races WA.
“She always works incredibly good, eats well, does well, looks well, so there are no signs she’s not the same horse as last time.
“It’s hard to say she has improved, because she is going very well, but we just need her to have held form and you think that will be good enough to win.
“It’s a good field, but I don’t think it’s any stronger than the Cyril Flower.
“If she’s the same horse that turned up in the Cyril Flower I think she’ll win.
“She’s a hard horse to trust, but all the signs are positive.”
This’ll Testya is chasing a winning hat trick in the Marjorie Charleson after defeating Comes A Time in a 1100m handicap at Ascot in January.
In a field of nine Marjorie Charleson starters, she has drawn perfectly in barrier one and will be ridden by in-form hoop, Holly Watson.
“It’s perfect and it’s all got a bit easier as she has become a bit more adaptable,” Pateman said.
“If someone wants to go quick you can let them go, if there is no speed, which there doesn’t look to be, she can take it up.
“She’s always a very hard horse to go past when she’s in front.”
$4.60 is currently available for This’ll Testya. She sits behind Searchin Roc’s ($3.50) and Buzzoom ($4.00).
