In a deceptive finish Testashadow raised another effort after being clearly headed by the Street Cry (IRE) filly Tree Of Jesse inside the final 50 metres.
The decision of trainer Gary Portelli to take off the blinkers on Testashadow and replace them with a visor may have been the winning move.
Portelli thought the 3yo gelding would have won his previous start at Rosehill if had seen the eventual winner, Berry Delicious, coming.
He clearly loves a fight. Tree Of Jesse looked to have taken a neck advantage over Testashadow who refused to yield under an aggressive Tim Clark to win by a nose.
"He's got a bit of courage about him doesn't he?" Portelli said.
"He's just a little fighter.
"I've never seen a horse that was going to get beat and then come back and win with 59kg on his back. I thought it was a huge effort.
"The Guineas is the race he's been set for this campaign and obviously anything won along the way was going to be a bonus."
Passed in short of his $60,000 reserve at the 2013 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling sale, Testashadow moves his overall record to 2 wins, 3 seconds and 1 third from 9 starts for earnings of $187,785.
Bred by Racetree, Testashadow is the second live foal of the 6-time winner Moonlight Shadow (Flying Spur) whose stakes-placed dam Crestfallen (Rivotious) is a half-sister to Zouzou (Redoute's Choice) the dam of 2-time Group 1 winner Zoustar (Northern Meteor).
Moonlight Shadow has a 2yo Magic Albert colt named Shadow Magic, and a yearling filly by Written Tycoon who will be among the Eliza Park International draft heading to the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling sale in January.
Vinery Stud based Testa Rossa (pictured) has 16 catalogued for the Magic Millions and three headed to the Inglis Classic in February.
