The 3-year-old filly Escarpa made a winning debut in the Apiam Animal Health Maiden Plate (1000m) at Bendigo on Thursday to credit the multiple Group II winner and $1,180,000 earner Cliff's Edge with his first winner.
Escarpa impresses on debut (image Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)
Ridden by Craig Williams for Greg Eurell, Escarpa took a step back at the start and drifted back to second last. Williams elected to ride for luck in the straight and Escarpa scythed through runners like a seasoned professional to defeat the fast-finishing Per Incanto (USA) filly Enchanted Jenni by three-quarters of a length with the Omaha Beach (USA) filly Coastal Abbey back in third.
Greg Eurell bred Escarpa out of his talented mare Great Dame (Danerich).
A three-quarter sister to the 5-time winner Great Duchess and half to stakes-placed Prowling, Escarpa is the fourth winner from five to race for Great Dame, a winner at Flemington and Stony Creek and fourth in the Group III The Vanity, behind Shopaholic, Mosheen and Angel of Mercy, in a four-start career.
Great Dame has a yearling filly by Ilovethiscity and was bred back to him last spring.
Exciting times (image Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)
Escarpa is the first winner from three runners for the Bombora Downs stallion Cliff’s Edge, whose son Just Cliffy has been runner-up in four of his six starts and was a close-up fourth at his most recent start at Doomben.
A winner at two, three, and four and twice a Group II runner-up at five, the tough-as-teak son of Canford Cliffs had 24 foals in his first crop.
From the international family of champion mare All Along, Cliff’s Edge stands this season at Bombora Downs for $3,300.
