Ben Melham and Ciaron Maher have combined with the speedy Estriella ($5) to take out the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1000m) on Saturday afternoon.
The daughter of I Am Invincible was dropping back from Group 1 grade at her previous two starts after racing in the Moir and Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley, but she was tasked with carrying 59kg in the 1000m contest, which saw her drift with horse racing bookmakers.
However, the four-year-old mare couldn’t have jumped better from barrier one, and she sprinted out to an early lead over Way To The Stars ($10), Scuderia ($61) and Ashford Street ($8.50).
Melham was able to restrain the mare by the halfway mark and she travelled nicely around the turn, while the other speed influences appeared to be struggling and the swoopers were starting to make their runs.
Estriella was given full bore with 300m to go as Rey Magnerio ($3.20) and Spacewalk ($7) started to throw out a challenge, and even though Rey Magnerio lunged on the line, the mare held on to claim a narrow victory.
2024 Caulfield Sprint replay – Estriella
Jack Turnbull represented the winning stable in the post-race interview, and he was very happy with the win.
“Yeah, she’s mixed it the best as we know. She was wide in the Moir and then she did a bit of work in the Manikato and it didn’t work out,” Turnbull said of Estriella’s previous starts.
“So we’ve reset, come back in trip, did well today.
“She’s carried 59 (kilograms), soft track, it’s not her go.
“It’s fantastic for Kevin and Vicky (Payne, owners), group two win now. We can have a look at some major sprints at the end of the carnival.
“100%, yeah. I’ll have a discussion with Ciaron and Kevin, but I’d say likely that’s (Champions Sprint) the go.”
Ben Melham was complimentary of the winner post-race.
“She’s a good mare, things probably haven’t quite gone her way in group one company and she drew one which was a little concern the way the track’s racing today,” Melham said.
“It was actually my intention to get a little cover if the race layout permitted but she flew out and I didn’t want to take the lead away from her when she was able to lead comfortably.
“She was running good sections and held them all the way to the line, albeit she’d had enough on the line but good to see her back in the winner’s circle.
“Yeah, she was no worries (on the ground).
“Like I said, she’s a keen enough going mare and obviously in the right yard.
“He had her nice and fresh back to the 1,000 today and she was too good.”
Estriella is an $11 chance with online racing betting sites in the Group 1 Champions Sprint futures markets.
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