News

Easter filly Estriella dominant again as G1 glory awaits

30th Mar 2024

She’s the best filly Kevin and Vikki Payne have owned “by 100 miles’’ and Estriella could get her chance at G1 glory within weeks following another devastating victory in today’s Listed Sunlight Classic at Flemington.

Estriella was racing for the first time since winning the $1m Inglis Sprint – also at Flemington – earlier this month and today made it win No.4 at start No.7 in the most convincing fashion.

The Ciaron Maher-trained 3YO filly has now won almost $1.1m in her short career and today led in an Inglis graduates Stakes trifecta, defeating Arkansaw Kid and Saltaire.

Estriella’s win came 20 minutes after the Paynes’ other star filly Tutta La Vita finished a close-up second behind NZ filly Orchestral in the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill.

Payne sourced both Estriella (pictured) and Tutta La Vita from the 2022 Easter Yearling Sale, an auction he loves and will return to Sydney for next week for the 2024 renewal at Riverside on April 7 and 8.

“I’ll be there, 100%. I’ve only been through the catalogue 100 times,’’ a delighted Payne said after his fillies had done he and his wife Vikki proud on the track today.

“I think it’s an outstanding catalogue. You could open basically any page and say ‘I’ll take that home please’ and be totally happy. It’s phenomenal.’’

On his fillies’ efforts today Payne added: “Estriella is something very special, even [jockey] Blake [Shinn] got off her today and said we haven’t got anywhere near the bottom of her yet.

“The plan was to head to the Arrowfield Sprint at Randwick in a couple of weeks but I think the [G1] Sangster in Adelaide might be strongly on the agenda now instead but we’ll talk with Ciaron and see what we think in a few days or so.

“Tutta La Vita, she was huge. It took a darn good filly to beat her so we’ll push onto the Oaks with her now and hope the other one [Orchestral] goes to the Derby!’’

Maher purchased Estriella for $750,000 on behalf of the Paynes from the draft of Arrowfield, who bred the filly alongside Jonathan Munz’s GSA Bloodstock.

Inspections for the 2024 Easter Yearling Sale begin at Riverside on Monday.

To view the paraded schedule CLICK HERE.

To view the catalogue – which includes a Snitzel half brother to Tutta La Vita to be offered by Arrowfield - CLICK HERE.

Meanwhile the $1m G2 Percy Sykes Stakes at Randwick on Day 2 of The Championships looms as the key autumn target for exciting 2YO Tobeornottobe (Pierata), who scored a convincing win in today’s G3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Flemington.

The Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock-trained 2YO was bringing strong form into today’s event, having finished close up behind fellow Inglis graduate and eventual G1 Blue Diamond winner Hayasugi at her only two starts in the Blue Diamond Preview and Prelude.

She proved today she was in the upper echelon of her crop, comfortably defeating the previously undefeated short-priced favourite Ameena.

“She’s an absolute ripper,’’ Griffiths said of Tobeornottobe.

“She did absolutely everything right in the Preludes but unfortunately put a little cut on her leg so couldn’t run in the Blue Diamond itself so we elected to wait for this race and it’s paid dividends.

“We’ll head to Sydney with her now and see if she can take that next step again.’’

Griffiths and de Kock with their bloodstock agent Peter Ford purchased Tobeornottobe for $200,000 at the Premier Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Widden Stud, who bred her in partnership.

And Sans Doute (Not A Single Doubt) made it four wins in a row with an emphatic victory in the Listed Bob Hoysted Hcp at Flemington.

In winning today, Sans Doute led in an Inglis graduates Stakes quinella, defeating Najem Suhail.

Sans Doute is rapidly becoming a prolific winner – she has now won seven of her 15 starts with five minor placings.

The 4YO Mark Walker-trained and Greg Ingham-bred mare is a $300,000 Easter Yearling Sale buy for David and Karen Ellis’ Te Akau Racing – along with Andrew Williams – from the Arrowfield Stud draft.

And in Adelaide the consistent 5YO Celsius Star (Zoustar) made it three wins from his past four starts – and first black type success – with victory in the Listed Railway Stakes at Oakbank.

An Easter Yearling Sale graduate of Rosemont, the Phillip Stokes-trained Celsius Star has now won eight races for more than $300,000 in earnings.

Celsius Star was bred by Tara Farm.