One to Watch – Morphettville

Tara Madgwick - Sunday May 18

Two blueblood juvenile fillies by champion sires from Group I winning mares made the two year-old event at Morphettville on Saturday a watch race and they duly ran the quinella.

By I Am Invincible from Group I winner Snitzerland, Chisholm started favourite on the strength of her only previous outing which produced a second  to Within the Law in the $500,000 RL Inglis Banner last spring.

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr trained filly came up short though when the Shane Nichols trained Esha scored a dazzling debut win.

By Extreme Choice from Nichols former stable favourite and Group I winner I Am a Star, Esha looked to have some serious potential when skipping away her main rival to win the 1000m dash by more than three lengths in a slick 57.47 seconds with Jessica Tzaferis in the saddle.

“She’s only going to improve,” said Nichols.

“She didn’t get much peace through the middle stages with the Price horse [Chisholm] on her outside, but once Jess improved her position she was strong through the line.

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“The last three [furlongs] in 33.72 on a track with good grass cover — it was impressive. I Am A Star came over here and won the National Stakes as a two-year-old and ran third in a Group 1 mares’ sprint. So, it’s nice to see her third foal come here and win so convincingly.”

Esha was a $900,000 Magic Millions purchase from Newgate,

Esha was a $900,000 Magic Millions purchase from Newgate Farm for Kia Ora Stud/Shane Nichols Racing and runs for Kia Ora in partnership with Matthew Sandblom, who also bred the filly and raced her dam.

Esha is the second winner for I Am a Star, whose yearling filly by Extreme Choice was sold at Magic Millions this year for $400,000 to Anthony Cummings and she produced another filly by the fertility troubled sire last spring.

Extreme Choice has had an amazing season producing two new G1 winners in Melbourne Cup hero Knight’s Choice and Blue Diamond winner Devil Night.

Esha is his third two year-old winner this season from just nine starters and the other two are Devil Night and Group III ATC Gimcrack Stakes winner Bel Merci.

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Race Result - Festival Hire Mdn Plate 1000m

Morphettville Parks Track: Good(4) Time: 0:57.47
1
Esha
- 2f Extreme Choice (AUS) x I Am A Star (NZ) (I Am Invincible (AUS))
Tnr: S P Nichols Rdr: Jessica Tzaferis 53.5
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $400,000
Seller: Newgate Farm, Aberdeen, NSW (As Agent)
Buyer: Anthony Cummings Thoroughbreds
2
3.4
Chisholm
- 2f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Snitzerland (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Lachlan Neindorf 54
3
4.6
Sectors
- 3f Territories (IRE) x Shiny Shinka (AUS) (Bullet Train (GB))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: Ms T Johnstone 53.5
4
5.4
Caladan
- 3g Tassort (AUS) x Valuta (AUS) (Magnus (AUS))
Tnr: R & C Jolly Rdr: Jake Toeroek 57.5
5
6
Aramoso
- 4g Mikki Isle (JPN) x Ballet Blanc (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Ms E Hubbard Rdr: Connor Murtagh 58
6
9.8
Invincible Alice
- 3f I Am Immortal (AUS) x Wings Of Alice (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: A J Gluyas Rdr: J Holder 55.5
7
11.3
One More Song
- 2f Toronado (IRE) x Encore Encore (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Aaron Bain & Ned Taylor Rdr: Felicity Atkinson 50.5
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