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.

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“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.

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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
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