Star Mare Wins $2million Invitational

Tara Madgwick - Saturday October 28

It might not carry Black Type but the $2million ATC Invitational (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday saw the cream rise to the top with Group I winning mares Espiona and Ruthless Dame fighting out the finish.

Espiona lays it down to her rivals  - image Steve Hart

The Chris Waller trained Espiona was coming off a luckless last start seventh in The Everest and showed her usual turn of foot to power home for Kerrin McEvoy and win the lucrative feature by a head to the great delight of her big team of Star Thoroughbreds owners.

 

“The Everest was not ideal, she didn't really get a fair crack at them at all. So to come here today and bounce through that and then have to course wide throughout. I thought 'Gee you're going to have to be good today to win' and she was exactly that,” said assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth.

Bred by Torryburn Stud in partnership with Frank Cook, Espiona was a $190,000 Magic Millions purchase by Star Thoroughbreds/Randwick Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) from the Torryburn Stud draft.

A five time stakes-winner, Espiona has the overall record of seven wins and three placings from 17 starts with prizemoney topping $2.8million.

Espiona was a $190,000 Magic Millions purchase.

From Waikato Stud’s phenomenal Escada family, Espiona is the first foal of the winning O’Reilly mare Dahooil, a sister to stakes winner Bonny O’Reilly and half-sister to stakes-winner Pretty to Sea, the family also producing Group I winners  Glamour Puss, Vision and Power and Steps in Time.

Sadly for Torryburn Stud, Dahooil died last year and her final foal is a two year-old colt by Capitalist that sold for $275,000 at Inglis Easter this yer to Julian Blaxland Bloodstock / Dream Thoroughbreds / Anthony Freedman Racing / Bluegrass Bloodstock and has been named Transactions with Anthony and Sam Freedman to train.

Espiona is a star performer for Newgate Farm’s flagship sire Extreme Choice, who stands this spring at a fee of $275,000.

 

 

Advertisment

Race Result - The Invitation 1400m

Randwick Track: Good(4) Time: 1:21.74
1
Espiona
- 5m Extreme Choice (AUS) x Dahooil (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: K Mc Evoy 59
2
0.2
Ruthless Dame
- 4m Tavistock (NZ) x Ruthless Lady (NZ) (Keeper (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: S Clipperton 59
3
0.3
Magic Time
- 4m Hellbent (AUS) x Time Awaits (AUS) (Nicconi (AUS))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: Tyler Schiller 58
4
0.7
Alcohol Free
- 6m No Nay Never (USA) x Plying (USA) (Hard Spun (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: A Hyeronimus 59.5
5
1.5
Ausbred Flirt
- 5m Maurice (JPN) x Seven Year Itch (AUS) (Keltrice (AUS))
Tnr: Brad Widdup Rdr: Rachel King 57
6
2.0
Royal Merchant
- 4m Merchant Navy (AUS) x Seventhchic (AUS) (Seventh Reason (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: J R Collett 59
7
3.2
Dalchini
- 5m Flying Artie (AUS) x Cinnamon Dove (USA) (Gulch (USA))
Tnr: Lee & Cherie Curtis Rdr: J Ford 57
8
3.7
Parisal
- 4m Astern (AUS) x Circular (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Regan Bayliss 58
9
3.7
Opal Ridge
- 4m Rubick (AUS) x Chadana (AUS) (Myboycharlie (IRE))
Tnr: Luke Pepper Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 59
10
3.8
Olentia
- 4m Zoustar (AUS) x Mabkhara (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Ms K O'Hara 58
11
4.0
Roots
- 5m Press Statement (AUS) x Arctic Success (AUS) (Big Brown (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Tommy Berry 58
12
8.0
Banana Queen
- 5m So You Think (NZ) x Tropicana Lady (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: J Parr 58
More Reading...
Espiona Gets Her Group 1 in Coolmore Classic
Few doubted she possessed Group 1 ability, and while Espiona took a little longer than expected, the daughter of Extreme Choice achieved the feat in Saturday’s $600,000 Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
Espiona Cracks $1million Winning G2 Golden Pendant
Champion trainer Chris Waller had a trio of Group I winning mares engaged in the $400,000 Group II ATC Golden Pendant (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday with Espiona claiming the prize ahead of her stablemate Atishu.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
Espiona Sells for $4.15million
Denise Martin and her Star Thoroughbreds owners of Group I winning mare Espiona got the biggest pay day of all on Wednesday afternoon when their star mare was sold through Magic Millions Online in a virtual sale for $4.15million.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.