Esperance escapes severe interference to record second win at Sandown

Brad Waters - Thursday August 17

Godolphin three-year-old Esperance struck early trouble but kept his unbeaten record intact with a comfortable win at Wednesday’s Sandown meeting but the vision of the early trouble really does put you on the edge of your seat.

Advertisement
Craig Williams was a winner for Godolphin in the opening race at Sandown on Wednesday. Photo: Steve Hart

Esperance impressed with his eight-length debut win at Echuca on July 27 but comfortably handled the step to Benchmark 64 level in the Sheamus Mills Bloodstock Handicap (1200m).

The Bernardini gelding was a touch keen early before he was caught in an early scrimmage when Damien Oliver was attempting to cross him on the Greg Eurell-trained Redcore leading into the first turn.

The incident caused Secret Reward and The Sword to be severely hampered while apprentice Brandon Stockdale almost fell from Spirit Of Aquada after copping the backwash of the incident of which footage is below.

 Esperance managed to survive severe early interference to keep his unbeaten record intact.

Jockey Craig Williams allowed Esperance to stride forward to race on the pace before the three-year-old kicked clear in the straight to score a comfortable win over Indernile while Spirit Of Aquada did a good job to pick himself up and run third.

"He's still a work in progress," Williams told Racing Victoria

"He gave me a really good feel and he's still raw and learning his craft.

"He's got a motor when it matters but he's not in group company so he can afford to do things wrong, have experience, get a win, confidence and go to the next level.

"He's surely going to get to that next level."

Godolphin's Melbourne representative David Charles said the team would let Esperance get over his Sandown effort before deciding the promising performer's next move.

"He's very exciting," Charles said.

"(Won by) eight lengths at Echuca and up to the (benchmark) 64 in town today so we'll just let him come through this race well and pick out a little race for him in the next four or five weeks and see how we go."

Williams won on Esperance at his first ride back from a holiday that began after he clinched last season's Melbourne jockeys' premiership on July 29.

 Esperance records an impressive win in a messy run race. Results: https://t.co/ILlqrOV54Tpic.twitter.com/FvJy69Df1G

The highly regarded gelding had the race well under control once everything settled down.


Advertisment
More Reading...
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
There were six heats for juveniles at Rosehill on Friday morning and the winners include unraced youngsters by Cool Aza Beel and I Am Invincible, plus a Farnan colt that tried his luck in Group races in the autumn and was far from disgraced.
Spring Potential for Darby Racing's Raging Force
Unplaced in the Group III ATC Breeders’ Plate last spring on debut, Raging Force came out of that race with an injury that required significant time on the sidelines, but since returning to full work his progress has been swift.
One to Watch – Ballarat
Synthetic track meetings at Ballarat can throw up some misleading form, but a debut winner from the Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable that started in the red and won by nine lengths is probably worth a closer look.
Invincible 2YO Colt wins for Bennett Racing
The $150,000 VRC Next Gen Sprinters Series Final (1200m) for two year-olds at Flemington on Saturday drew a competitive field of progressive juveniles and the colt that stood out on type in the yard was the one that got the cash with I Am Invincible colt Jimmy Recard proving too good for race favourite Bacash.
Third Winner for Peltzer
Twin Hills Stud’s young sire Peltzer added a third winner to his tally with a debut victory at Canberra on Friday for the well named gelding I Show Speed.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Marble Nine Brings Up Second Stakes Winner For Aquis’ Kobayashi
The withdrawal of the top weight in Saturday’s $175,000 Listed VRC Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final (1200m) at Flemington saw the field down to just six, with Marble Nine continuing his outstanding recent form to secure his first black type victory.
High-flying Pencarrow Stud offers well-bred mares in Online Breeding Stock Sale
The 2024-25 season has been one of the best ever for Pencarrow Stud, and some of the renowned bloodlines that have underpinned that success are now available for purchase in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
Buccleuch - First Stakes-Winner for Peltzer
The $175,000 Listed VRC Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday was won back in 2020 by Cherry Tortoni, who went to on to become a multiple Group winner of nearly $1million and the same colours were carried by this year’s winner Buccleuch.
Sires With Winners - Friday July 4
Here is the full list of 38 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.