Testa Rossa’s Australian-bred son Weregoingtogetcha appreciated the step up in trip to record his first stakes success in Saturday’s G3 Manawatu Cup.

After three previous placings at stakes level, Weregoingtogetcha showed his quality to breakthrough for his first Group victory.

With a third placing in the G2 Waikato Guineas as a three-year-old and a second in last year’s G1 Zabeel Classic, Weregoingtogetcha has raced at Group level in nearly half of his 23-race career.

A Karaka Premier Sale graduate as a yearling, Weregoingtogetcha was first sold as a weanling at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale from the draft of Patinack Farm.

He was eventually secured by Woodville trainer and part owner David Hayes and has not been the easiest horse to train due to setbacks.

Saturday was Weregoingtogetcha’s fifth win from 23 starts and has earned stakes just short of $200,000.

Hayes’ Portland Stud purchased Weregoingtogetcha at the 2012 Karaka Premier Sale for $140,000 from Jamieson Park.

“He had colic, he had a virus after we moved our stable here from Woodville and he’s had a few problems with his teeth,” Hayes said.

“But he’s always had Group One ability. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him win a Group One somewhere.

“He’s a really good racehorse.”

Bred by James Chapman’s Jamieson Park, Weregoingtogetcha is out Sweetness ‘N Light (Entrepreneur) a winner of six races. A dam of four foals, three are winners including six-race winner Sweet Talk Woman (More Than Ready).

Weregoingtogetcha is from the family of G1 winners Grosvenor, National Gallery, Lankan Rupee, Mahaya and Miss Keepsake.

It is also the family of champion Lonhro, the sire of Weregoingtogetcha’s half-brother to be sold as a yearling in 2016.

The current weanling out of the mare is a Pierro colt foaled in early November.