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...
Another Day, Another Stakes-Winner for Wootton Bassett
A homebred for Marc Chan, quality Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Green Impact closed out his juvenile season winning the Group II Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown and he bounced back into the winner’s list at the same venue overnight.
Breeding To Win - 2025 G1 Queensland Oaks
Unbeaten this preparation, Philia will be looking to emulate her half-sister Duais in winning the $1million Group I BRC Queensland Oaks (2200m) on Saturday, but a swarm of up and comers are nipping at her heels, so who are they?
A Passion That Lasts a Lifetime
A passion for pedigrees and thoroughbreds is often one that lasts a lifetime and so it has been for one of the co-breeders of Bravery, who contacted me this week following our earlier and very well read story on current 2YO star Cool Archie.
North Pacific 2YO Ready to Win
Byerley Park trainer Steven Cole will head to Ellerslie with a quartet of runners on Saturday, and he is particularly upbeat about the chances of Pacific Breeze in the Network Visuals 1200.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
There were six heats for juveniles at Rosehill on Friday that featured some interesting winners including stakes-placed filly Horseshoe Hill, a couple of unraced youngsters by Zoustar and the highest priced yearling by Prague.
New Winner for Bivouac
Godolphin have been  enjoying a winning run with their late season juveniles and it continued at Geelong on Thursday where Bivouac gelding Loving opened his account.
Inglis Ready 2 Race Entries Open
Entries for the Inglis Ready2Race Sale – Australasia’s most progressive 2YO Sale – are now open.
Sires With Winners - Friday June 6
Here is the full list of 31 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Thursday June 5
Here is the full list of 36 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
SWs in foal to Wootton Bassett and Snitzel headline the June (Early) Online Sale
Stakes winners in foal to Wootton Bassett and Snitzel, along with a significant number of young, well-bred racing and breeding prospects headline another intriguing catalogue for the Inglis Digital June (Early) Online Sale.