Esskay Gets Real Steel (Jpn) Off The Mark

Mark Smith - Wednesday March 29

The Danny O'Brien-trained Esskay made a winning career debut over 1300m at Sandown-Hillside on Wednesday to credit Arrowfield Stud's one-season shuttler Real Steel (JPN) with his first southern hemisphere winner.

Esskay arrives in time (image Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

Ridden by Damian Lane, Esskay finished determinably to defeat the stubborn Written Tycoon debutant Magic Mogul with the Toronado (IRE) filly Aspenado back in third.

"He has been pleasing us at home, and he steps up every time we ask him," assistant trainer ben Gleeson said.

"We worked him last week with an older horse, and while he is not a brilliant horse with a turn of foot, he just grinds.

"We think he will develop into a beautiful 3yo, and to do that today is very promising.

'Luke Wilkinson, our bloodstock manager, found this horse, and he raced in his colours today. He put a few good great owners in to the horse. Luke is a fantastic judge of a young horse, and that's paid dividends today."

Advertisement

"He'll make a beautiful 3yo" (image Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

A $90,000 purchase for Danny O'Brien Racing from the Bowness Stud draft from Book 2 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Esskay is the fourth winner from as many to race for the Lonhro mare Lacey Lonhbreak.

From the family of Faithful Son and Lailani,  Lacey Lonhbreak has a yearling filly by D'Argento, which failed to make her $30,000 reserve at the Gold Coast in January.

Esskay a $90,000 Magic Millions yearling

After missing in 2021, Lacey Lonhbreak revisited D'Argento last spring.

A son of Deep Impact, Real Steel (JPN) won the Dubai Turf in 2016 for Yoshito Yahagi. A 4yo brother to Superstar Loves Only You, Real Steel (JPN) left 51 foals from his lone Australian crop. 

Advertisment

Race Result - Ladbrokes Same Race Multi Hcp 1300m

Sandown-Hillside Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:20.11
1
Esskay
- 2g Real Steel (JPN) x Lacey Lonhbreak (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Damian Lane 56.5
2
0.1
Magic Mogul
- 2g Written Tycoon (AUS) x Boscobella (AUS) (Pierro (AUS))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: J Bowditch 56.5
3
1.9
Aspenado
- 2f Toronado (IRE) x Aspenet (AUS) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: John McArdle Rdr: Beau Mertens 54
4
3.3
Tacito
- 2c Showtime (AUS) x Without Saying (AUS) (Sepoy (AUS))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: M J Dee 59
5
3.5
Freakofnature
- 2c Snitzel (AUS) x No Evidence Needed (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: Jason Warren Rdr: M Zahra 58.5
6
4.0
Birks
- 2g Headwater (AUS) x Black 'N' Tough (AUS) (Tough Speed (USA))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: Carleen Hefel 56.5
More Reading...
Vale, Robert Priscott
Former Group One-winning trainer Robert Priscott has passed away.
Sires With Winners - Monday September 1
Here is the full list of 22 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Ballarat
An Ole Kirk filly from a famous female family started a short priced favourite at Ballarat on Monday and duly got the cash.
Melbourne Racing Club Announces Official Trial Schedule for 2025–26
The Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) is thrilled to announce a comprehensive schedule of 15 Official Trials across the 2025–26 season, providing an essential service to trainers, owners and jockeys while addressing the industry’s increasing need for metropolitan grass access.
Five Lots Announced for Tattersalls Online Barrier Trials Pop-Up Sale
Tattersalls Online, Europe’s leading online thoroughbred sales platform, will break new ground when offering for auction five lots who took part in the ITM Irish EBF Barrier Trials at Leopardstown Racecourse earlier this week. The sale which takes place on 3rd – 4th September can be viewed on the Tattersalls Online website www.tattersallsonline.com.
2025 NZB Ready to Run Catalogue Online - World’s Most Successful 2YO Sale
The catalogue for the 2025 edition of the leading sale of two-year-olds is now online and in mailboxes, with NZB excited to unveil another stellar offering at the Ready to Run Sale.
Pedigree Watch – 3YO - Changing of the Guard?
Last Saturday, spring kicked into overdrive and we saw three Group races for 3YO colts and geldings that included the winners of last season’s GI MRC Blue Diamond, G1ATC Sires Produce and the Golden Slipper runner-up, but none of them could land a blow.
Tara Talks Racing - We Chat with the Breeder of Raging Force
The Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes was won last Saturday by exciting Cosmic Force gelding Raging Force, so this week we’re chatting to his breeder Dr Richard McClenahan of Mullaglass Stud, who has a self-confessed ‘mare addiction’!
Exciting Castelvecchio 3YO Quantum Legend Headed to HK
Tony Pike’s powers of persuasion have come up short against the money on offer in Hong Kong.
Via Sistina Crowned Australian Horse of the Year
Via Sistina (IRE) has been honoured at a great many awards events in the past couple of months and the Yulong owned daughter of champion sire Fastnet Rock took the big one in Brisbane on Sunday.