Master trainer Chris Waller enjoyed his first success in the Group 1 $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) with his progressive mare Espiona breaking through for a maiden elite level success at Rosehill Gardens.
2023 Coolmore Classic winner Espiona broke through for her maiden Group 1 win at Rosehill on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.
Waller came close in last year’s Coolmore Classic with his Surround Stakes winning filly Hinged running third, but was in the winners’ stall this Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival with his last start Flemington winner Espiona.
The four-year-old daughter of Extreme Choice hadn’t won a race since April last year until Waller opted to head south second-up on February 25 when she carried 58kg to victory in the Group 3 Mannerism Stakes.
From there he made the call along with owner Denise Martin to step the former spruik filly back up to top grade with Espiona relishing a perfectly-timed ride by the in-form Michael Dee carrying only 51kg in the Coolmore.
“Unbelievable. I just said to Chris ‘genius’”, Martin told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“Perfect ride. She’s been a little bit out of sorts with some of the punters but I hope they all love her again today, we do.
“When Chris said she can run in a Group 3 all her life but with 51 (kilos) in a Group 1 we’ve got to take the chance.
“Very special.”
It was an improved effort from Espiona who ran eighth to Lighthouse in last year’s Coolmore Classic results and who finally lived up to her Group 1 expectations.
“It’s a special win for (owner) Denise Martin who is a huge supporter of our stable,” Waller said.
“She’s just a pleasure to train for.
“We had the pin-up girl at the time and she (Espiona) lost her way a little bit, but she’s done a great job today.”
In a huge month for the Dee the flying rider kept delivering getting the job done in a great ride.
With the speed on thanks to a bold front-running performance by Pride Of Jenni, Dee was able to settle three back one off the fence aboard the eventual Coolmore Classic winner before falling back to the inside on the straight.
There were three across the field with 50m to go as Espiona moved up the fence to level with the brave 30/1 leader, while the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Gold Standard filly Sheeza Belter was making up late ground off a tough run wider out.
Surging forward in the final few strides Espiona’s class rose to the top as she got her nose down on the line to narrowly deny the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Pride Of Jenni, fourth her lead-up in the Mannerism, an all-the-way victory with Sheeza Belter getting up into third.
The Group 1 $1 million Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on April 8 looks a nice autumn option for Espiona.
Con Te Partiro (2020) was the last to do the double.
Updated 2023 Queen Of The Turf Stakes odds at Ladbrokes have Espiona at $11 to be the next with markets led by her Phar Lap Stakes winning stablemate Zougotcha ($7).
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