‘We never doubted her ability’ – Espiona embarks on path to Group 1
Extreme Choice mare spearheads Star Thoroughbreds-owned trio chasing big-race success at Rosehill tomorrow
Connections behind Espiona (Extreme Choice) never lost faith in the ability of their filly, who burst onto the scene with a rating-busting performance in a Listed contest at Flemington in November last year. But there was an overwhelming sense of relief, after three autumn defeats as a short-priced favourite, when she powered clear to dominate the JHB Carr Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m) at Randwick in April to conclude her campaign in emphatic style.
But for all the fanfare and hype surrounding the undeniably talented, Chris Waller-trained four-year-old, Espiona is yet to strike at the elite-level – a fact that will be sought to be rectified this spring, either in Sydney or the drier tracks of Melbourne.
“As much as anything it was a relief for everybody. I think it was for Chris, but certainly the owners. They knew she was capable of a performance of that type and we’d hoped that would have come in the races in the autumn at the elite level,” said Denise Martin, principal of owners Star Thoroughbreds.
“When she did win that Group 3 last time, I was elated because I just knew it would show some of those doubters what she’s capable of.
“We’re now gearing up to that Group 1 level again and we think she’s very much capable [of winning a Group 1]. We’ve got now and the autumn to find one.”
The incessant Sydney rain that has blighted tracks, robbed racing onlookers of seeing the best of several of its star performers, but possibly none more so than Espiona, whose brilliance was blunted by the sodden surfaces of Randwick and Rosehill.
Her head second to Fangirl (Sebring) in the Light Fingers Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) when sent off a $1.55 chance was followed by a third in the Surround Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m), beaten a length and a quarter by Hinged (Worthy Cause). The Espiona bubble was seemingly burst once more when the filly finished a disappointing eighth in the Coolmore Classic (Gr 1, 1500m), won by Lighthouse (Mizzen Mast).
The big wet, which led to heavy-rated tracks for eight consecutive weekends from February 26 through to the end of the carnival, was at one stage nearly enough to convince Waller and Martin to pull up stumps for Espiona’s autumn campaign and bring her back fresh for spring. However, having dismissed that suggestion, ahead of her seasonal return in tomorrow’s Sheraco Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) Martin is wary of the effect an arduous wet autumn might have on the filly.
“She was presented with heavy tracks almost from the very beginning of her preparation in February, and they just continued on and on and on. Chris and his team were considering spelling her at one stage,” Martin said.
“She missed in the Group 2 [Light Fingers Stakes] at Randwick by a centimetre. Had she won that and not performed way below par in the Coolmore [Classic], it would have been a Group 2 win, a Group 3 win and a Group 1 third [in the Surround Stakes], so it would have been an ok preparation.
“But just to have those wet tracks all the time, it was quite overwhelming. We saw in Melbourne that she has an explosive turn of foot and likes that way of going. All we need now is for a track, even in the soft range, to show her true ability.”
The Rosehill surface was rated a Soft 6 yesterday, with forecast rain today ahead of a dry raceday tomorrow, where she will take on another progressive mare in the shape of the Bjorn Baker-trained Shades Of Rose (Rubick), a winner of six of her eight starts and seeking a fourth win in succession. She was yesterday rated the $3 favourite ahead of Espiona at $3.50, the latter, however, retaining the services of James McDonald at the expense of her more fancied rival.
The prospect of further wet weather in Sydney might see Espiona switched south once more, but while she will be kept to sprint trips for the time being, the filly, who is out of a half-sister to Bonny O’Reilly (O’Reilly), could be stepped up further in distance later this spring.
“Whether Espiona continues on to races like the Golden Eagle or she goes to Melbourne for some sprint races, she’s performed so well in Victoria, we’ll know more after Saturday, but the team is delighted with her progress,” said Martin.
“[If it remains wet] I imagine she would go to Melbourne. She has worked at Rosehill the reverse way of going, so it’s no disadvantage for her to travel if that’s what is needed to escape the wet tracks if they present themselves in Sydney.
“To an extent we’re still working out her best trip. She’s won over 1400 metres at Flemington and because of her extraordinary sprint, instantly you’d think that 1200 and 1400 metres are her superior distances. For now, we’ll target those trips and if she suggests she can get further later in the spring we can look at her options.”
One horse that was forced to skip an intended assignment, although not due to the inclement weather, was Star Thoroughbreds’ Conqueror (Churchill), who was scratched at the barriers when favourite for the Up And Coming Stakes (Gr 3, 1300m) a fortnight ago.
Having emerged unscathed from an incident that saw the three-year-old cast his leg over the barrier – and subsequently trial to the satisfaction of stewards – he takes his place in tomorrow’s Ming Dynasty (Gr 3, 1400m) where in a competitive contest he is a $5 chance behind Godolphin’s Golden Mile (Astern) ($4.40) and recent maiden winner Zou Tiger (Zoustar) ($4.80).
“He was fine with the barrier blanket on at the trials on Tuesday,” Martin said. “Willie Pike reported from when he was scratched last time that he wasn’t naughty or aggressive, he was just being playful.
“Unfortunately, we missed that race a fortnight ago and he meets a competitive field here, but I think he’s a quality colt and we’ll know in the coming weeks where he sits in the next few months.”
Conqueror, a $180,000 buy for Star Thoroughbreds and Randwick Bloodstock Agency, defeated subsequent Group 1 winner She’s Extreme (Extreme Choice), Riesling Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) winner Seven Veils (Shalaa) and Vain Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) runner-up Alpha One (Super One) when breaking his maiden in February, and followed up with a fast-finishing second to Arnaqueur (Astern) last time out in Benchmark 72 grade.
“The form coming out of his maiden win did surprise us somewhat, but when he came back as a three-year-old and he started to prepare for barrier trials we thought then that he had really developed well and was more mature physically,” Martin said.
“Until they produce it on raceday your expectation has to be a little bit measured, but he does appear to be talented and this is his time now to show us what he’s capable of.”
He is one of two colts by Churchill (Galileo) that Star Thoroughbreds have within their stable. Star this year purchased a colt for $180,000 out of Forget The Weather (Stormy Atlantic), making the now two-year-old, a half-brother to Group 1 winner Bella Vella (Commands).
“I particularly liked [Churchill] as a type, and Brett Howard (Randwick Bloodstock Agency) had identified [Conqueror] early on as an attractive colt,” Martin said.
“But Conqueror has done well to the extent that this year at the Easter sale I bought another Churchill colt out of the mare that produced Bella Vella. He’s a nice colt named Determination.”
Zoustar (Northern Meteor) mare Kiku, winner of the $500,000 Magic Millions National Classic (1600m) in June, makes up a trio of Star Thoroughbreds-owned horses chasing stakes success at Rosehill tomorrow, when the five-year-old takes her chance in the Theo Marks Stakes (Gr 2, 1300m).
“She’s come back extremely well,” said Martin. “She’s a filly that as a yearling was well put together, but quite immature. As a two-year-old I thought she looked like a yearling and at three she looked two [years-old], and only in this last preparation it seemed as though she’d become a fully grown mare at last.
“Her race performances have been very good and she has good form from the Magic Millions (Gold Coast raceday when third behind Snapdancer).
“She has some good residual value being a sister to Newmarket winner Zoutori and she looks like the sort of mare that could race on for another year and, like [Star Thoroughbreds’ Tattersall’s Tiara winner] Invincibella, just keep getting better.”