Another Wil wins eventful Testa Rossa Stakes at Caulfield

Another Wil shrugged off a heavy bump to win the Testa Rossa Stakes at Caulfield and continue his march towards his Group 1 target.

Another Wil won the Testa Rossa Stakes despite copping a bump in the straight. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

A little argy-bargy in the straight failed to stop Another Wil continuing his march towards a Group 1 test in the Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

Another Wil charged home for a last-stride win when resuming at Caulfield last month, prompting punters to back the Ciaron Maher-trained galloper into $1.60 for his latest assignment.

Jockey Jamie Kah parked Another Wil behind the leaders until the home turn where she went for a run inside the drifting leader Run Harry Run.

• Shinn suspended after close call with Kah at Caulfield

However, Run Harry Run shifted in under jockey Blake Shinn at the 300m, making heavy contact with Another Wil, unbalancing the talented five-year-old.

Shinn was later suspended for 10 meetings after pleading guilty to careless riding in the incident.

Another Wil merely shrugged off the heavy bump, accelerating sharply in the last 200m to score a comfortable 1½-length win over the Symon Wilde-trained Wishlor Lass ($13).

Run Harry Run ($21) faded late to finish third.

It got tight 😬

Another Wil was still way too good in the Testa Rossa! @[e-mail]/psR4UoKly1

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 21, 2024

“The gap was there on the fence and then Blake (Shinn) closed it on the turn when we were already in there,” Kah said.

“Lucky he’s grown into a man now, he pushed his way out of it.

“He’s still got improvement, he’s still had a big blow pulling up.”

Maher said the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on October 12 looks “the obvious next target” but could consider races over 2000m later in the spring.

Ladbrokes cut Another Wil’s Toorak Handicap price from $3.20 to $2.40 after his latest win, his seventh in 10 starts.

“He seems to handle dry, wet. You know, he can race forward, back. And you need to be able to when you’re raising the bar,” Maher said.

“So, still hopefully, handicap conditions will suit him up to the mile. It’s ideal.

“And then we can work it out after that.”

JIMMY LEAVES IT LATE TO STAR

Jimmysstar left it late but he proved trainer Ciaron Maher right with his last-gasp win in the Tour d’Horse Sprint (1100m).

Maher said Jimmysstar’s owners queried his decision to give the gelding his first-up run over such a short distance but the five-year-old used every centimetre to run down the brave Ashford Street.

Jimmysstar flies home to nab Ashford Street on the line! ⭐️@cmaherracing@blake_shinnpic.twitter.com/bVZhiqUIj5

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 21, 2024

Jimmysstar ($6.50) was 10 lengths from the leader on the home turn but his finishing burst, combined with Ashford Street ($31) tiring late, led to the Kiwi-bred galloper getting up on the line.

“They did question why I was going to the 1100(m), but he’s just furnished and he always works like a sharp horse,” Maher said.

“I knew he wasn’t quite there last preparation, but, you know, he’ll just continue to get better, I think.”

Originally published as Another Wil wins eventful Testa Rossa Stakes at Caulfield