This’ll Testya powers home in mare’s impressive debut

Adam Durrant’s four-year-old This’ll Testya recorded a barnstorming victory on debut at the Bunbury Turf Club on Sunday, in one of the most powerful outings witnessed at the track this season.

The William Pike-ridden mare finished 4.5 lengths clear of Tinto Belle in the Country Comfort Perth Maiden (1100m), with the field powerless in its bid to run her down.

Pike, who was backing up from his Kirin Railway Stakes victory aboard Regal Power a day earlier, remained patient with the excitable four-year-old, who entered the race on the back of a trial victory by six lengths at Ascot on November 4.

Following the commanding display, Pike believed she would only continue to get better as she comes to terms with life as a quality sprinter.

Capel-based runner River Beau backed up his impressive third-placed finish at Bunbury on November 5 after fending off a late surge from Holly Locke’s three-year-old Jakestar in the Moshi Moshi Marketing Maiden (1100m).

It was a welcomed result for the Bruce Watkins stable, with rider Jason Whiting impressed with how the gelding held his nerve in the final 200m.

Later in the afternoon, red-hot favourite Do A Pataky was upstaged in the Qube Bulk Transport Handicap (2000m), with Justin Warwick-trained mare First Black coming from the tail of the field to claim victory by 1.5 lengths.

For much of the journey it appeared as though $31 outsider Jambo would cruise to victory, with Tina Glasson’s six-year-old leading by more than 10 lengths with under 1000m to go.

However as the pace intensified, First Black rider Lucy Warwick managed to turn the screws and once sent wide to an outside lane, the mare coasted past Captain Jack and Cool Frost to record her first win since early September.