Search

show me:

Estriella on song for Sunlight Classic

3 minute read

Trips to Sydney and Adelaide hinge on a Flemington performance for Estriella.

ESTRIELLA winning the Senet Peter Le Grand Stakes
ESTRIELLA winning the Senet Peter Le Grand Stakes Picture: Colin Bull / Sportpix

The Ciaron Maher stable holds high hopes for Estriella, but the future of her campaign will not be determined until after she runs at Flemington

On offer after the Listed Sunlight Classic (1100m) on Saturday is a trip to Sydney for a Group 2 race against her own age, or a trip to Adelaide for a Group 1 contest against her own sex. 

Jack Turnbull, who runs the Cranbourne stable for Maher, said there was a possibility the filly could take on both challenges next month, but all that won't be decided until after Estriella gets through Saturday's sprint against three-year-olds. 

The Group 2 Arrowfield Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 13 and the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on April 27 are under consideration for the filly. 

The Maher stable won the Robert Sangster Stakes last year with Ruthless Dame and followed up winning The Goodwood (1200m) two weeks later with Royal Merchant who were both three-year-olds when successful in those Group 1 races. 

Turnbull said Estriella profiles as a similar type to that pair. 

"She'll go to the Sunlight and then potentially onto the Arrowfield Stakes up in Sydney, all going well," Turnbull said. 

"And then if she was to travel after Sydney, it would possibly be to Adelaide. 

"I don't think she would go to Brisbane, but ultimately Ciaron would make that call. 

"She models similar to a Ruthless Dame and a Royal Merchant, but everything comes down to how she performs in the Sunlight." 

Estriella has raced only six times, registering three wins, and is unbeaten in Victoria. 

She resumed with a first-up win in the Kevin Hayes Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield last month before winning the Inglis Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on March 2. 

Turnbull said that straight track experience was invaluable. 

He added the filly has been taken along quietly since but had a 'working gallop jump-out' at Cranbourne recently, being competitive with fellow Sunlight Classic contender I Am Unstoppable

"She's been four weeks between run, and she went really well," Turnbull said. 

"That was the idea. Get her stimulated and do a bit more without doing too much. 

"She is a very talented horse." 


Racing and Sports

Flemington

Saturday, 30th March 2024

7
15:40
(local)

Sunlight Classic (LR)

Age: 3yo Type: OPEN
AUD $501,300
1100m TURF GOOD
7
15:40
(local)
AUD $501,300
1100m GOOD

Sunlight Classic (LR)

Age: 3yo Type: OPEN


FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 13. ESTRIELLA (AUS) 3yo F
I AM INVINCIBLE (AUS) - MADRIGALS (AUS)
BLAKE SHINN
CIARON MAHER
$2.05
56.5kg
K J Payne & Mrs V M Payne

Sales Information

2nd 1. ARKANSAW KID (AUS) 3yo C
HARRY ANGEL (IRE) - FLORABELLA (AUS)
JYE MCNEIL
BEN, WILL & JD HAYES
$21
58kg
Ms J McAlpine, Philippa Duncan Bloodstock (Mgr: Ms P E Duncan), Mrs C G Legh, Mrs K L Gordon, Ms N K Arthur, Ms K L Bytel, Mrs L A Frew, Mrs J G Madden, Mrs S M Montague, Mrs I Sampieri, Mrs K G Spillane & Mrs A M Webb

Sales Information

3rd 15. SALTAIRE (AUS) 3yo F
STAR TURN (AUS) - TESTA SARAH (AUS)
CRAIG WILLIAMS
JOHN O'SHEA
$14
56kg
Whitby Bloodstock Pty Ltd (Mgr: M Whitby), Werrett Bloodstock Pty Ltd (Mgr: N Werrett), J Lochtenberg, D Macpherson, Mrs C Lochtenberg & P Hatton

Sales Information

4th 3. STRETAN ANGEL (AUS) 3yo F
HARRY ANGEL (IRE) - SRETAN (AUS)
DAMIAN LANE
PHILLIP STOKES
$5.5
57kg

Sales Information

5th 6. HEDGED (AUS) 3yo G
CAPITALIST (AUS) - ACING SHAMROCK (AUS)
CELINE GAUDRAY
MICK PRICE & MICHAEL KENT JNR
$10
57kg

Sales Information

6th 14. SHESALLSHENANIGANS (AUS) 3yo F
TORONADO (IRE) - SEGENHOE VALLEY (AUS)
BEN MELHAM
SIMON ZAHRA
$26
56kg

Sales Information

7th 4. SCHEELITE (AUS) 3yo C
REAL STEEL (JPN) - MISS ST TROPEZ (AUS)
DANIEL STACKHOUSE
K & K KEYS
$51
57kg

Sales Information

8th 8. WOLFY (NZ) 3yo C
TIVACI (AUS) - SHE'S POPULAR (NZ)
BLAIKE MCDOUGALL
NICK RYAN
$41
57kg

Sales Information

9th 2. I AM UNSTOPPABLE (AUS) 3yo C
I AM INVINCIBLE (AUS) - SATIN SLIPPER (AUS)
MARK ZAHRA
LLOYD KENNEWELL & LUCY YEOMANS
$8
58kg

Sales Information

10th 10. TITLE FIGHTER (AUS) 3yo G
LEAN MEAN MACHINE (AUS) - IF NOT NOW WHEN (AUS)
BEN ALLEN
CLAYTON DOUGLAS
$151
57kg

Sales Information

11th 5. HANCHI (AUS) 3yo G
SQUAMOSA (AUS) - IMPERIAL IDA (AUS)
JAMIE MOTT
S & J CASEY
$26
57kg

Sales Information

12th 12. DE BERGERAC (AUS) 3yo C
ZOUSTAR (AUS) - YAU CHIN (AUS)
MICHAEL DEE
GRAHAME BEGG
$26
57kg
13th 11. CORE CONCEPT (AUS) 3yo C
BRAZEN BEAU (AUS) - VEGAPINE (AUS)
JASON MASKIELL
MARK ASHBY
$201
57kg

Sales Information

14th 16. EXCESS (AUS) 3yo F
SNITZEL (AUS) - OVERREACH (AUS)
BEAU MERTENS
JULIUS SANDHU
$101
55kg
15th 9. PERILOUS FIGHTER (AUS) 3yo C
STARSPANGLEDBANNER (AUS) - BEAUTY SCHOOL (AUS)
THOMAS STOCKDALE
CLAYTON DOUGLAS
$67
57kg

Sales Information

Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au