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Estriella's huge pay day winning Inglis Sprint, Pink Bonus double

2nd Mar 2024

Exciting filly Estriella (I Am Invincible) secured a huge pay day for her owners when winning today’s $1m Inglis Sprint at Flemington as well as the $200,000 Inglis Pink Bonus.

It was a dominant win by the 3YO Ciaron Maher trainee, who went straight to the lead for jockey Blake Shinn and never looked in any doubt.

The victory was her third from just six starts and today’s overall prizemoney and bonus takes her career earnings to just shy of $1m.

Estriella defeated Robrick and Caballus in the Inglis Sprint.

Maher purchased Estriella on behalf of Kevin and Vikki Payne at the 2022 Easter Yearling Sale where she was offered by Arrowfield, who bred the filly alongside Jonathan Munz’s GSA Bloodstock.

Vikki Payne – who owns 75% of Estriella – said she only went to Flemington today because Estriella (pictured) was running for the $200,000 Inglis Pink Bonus on top of the $550,000 first prize cheque.

“The Pink Bonus, it’s all mine! It’s a great initiative that Inglis has put on the for the ladies,’’ she said.

“It’s fantastic for racing, we need more ladies involved, definitely.

“I’m very excited, it was a wonderful result. I was very nervous, we were on a funny angle watching the race so we couldn’t quite see who was coming up at her but at the end it was just wonderful.’’

Her husband Kevin added: “No words can describe it, it was an unbelievable win.

“Last night I dreamt it! I was a bit scared when she led but Blake [Shinn] is such a brilliant jockey, he got her into her rhythm and the rest is history.

“We’ve bought horses off Inglis for 40-odd years, we love Inglis, we love everyone there, everyone looks after you, it’s like a family away from the family.

“I feel like I’m at home when I go to any Inglis sale, the people are so great and the product is so great and she’s testament to that. We just love Inglis.’’

Today’s victory saw Maher extend his lead in the Inglis Race Series Theault Trainers’ Challenge, with just one leg remaining for this season, the $200,000 Inglis Challenge at Scone in May.

Maher – who also received a pair of Swarovski Optik binoculars for being the winning trainer of an Inglis Race Series Event – described today’s win as “phenomenal’’.

“That was unbelievable,’’ the trainer said.

“She’s a filly that when you buy them, you hope to win a race like this and when you get the Pink Bonus as well, it was exactly that, an added bonus which is fantastic.

“The Inglis Sprint is very fruitful in terms of the purse, added with the Pink Bonus, it’s a $750,000 pay day for her owners today which is better than winning most Group 1s. It’s a great initiative by Inglis and fantastic for the owners and I’m sure they’ll be lining up at the Premier Sale this weekend and Easter coming up.

“Estriella is a very raw filly, she has so much ability. She’s typical of the Vinnie fillies, if you give them the time they generally reward you and she’s got a phenomenal page, mouth-watering.

“Kevin has had some big days but I’m sure this will be right up there for him.’’

Earlier on the Flemington program quality juvenile Bold Bastille (Brazen Beau) made it two Stakes wins from just three starts with an impressive all-the-way victory in the Listed Furphy Trophy.

The Ben, JD and Will Hayes-trained 2YO was a debut winner of the $500,000 Inglis Banner back in October and today returned to the winners’ stall in fine style.

The Hayes’ teamed up with Mathew Becker of Group 1 Bloodstock to buy the Des Pope-bred Bold Bastille at last year’s Premier Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Blue Gum Farm.

The brothers will be hoping to find their next Bold Bastille at this year’s Premier Sale, which begins at 10am tomorrow at Oaklands.

“We’ve been very busy at Oaklands this week, the whole team has been out there looking and there’s some real quality again in this year’s catalogue,’’ Ben Hayes said.

“It’s a sale that’s been good to us over the years, it’s our home sale, we’ve bought plenty of quality horses out of there over the years and I’m confident we’ll be really active again the next few days.’’

Bold Bastille led in an Inglis graduates quinella today, defeating Drifting for Peter and Paul Snowden.

The Premier Yearling Sale begins at Oaklands at 10am tomorrow and runs for three days.

To view the catalogue CLICK HERE.

And at Randwick Phearson (Exosphere) returned for his autumn campaign in fine fettle, winning the G3 Liverpool City Cup.

The Brad Widdup-trained Phearson is one of the most consistent horses in training, with his overall record now reading 17:6.6.2 for $583,000 in prizemoney.

Peter James’ Sunninghill Park Stud bought Phearson for $65,000 at the Classic Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Fernrigg Farm, who bred the horse with Tim Scales.

Last night at The Valley the 7YO Indian Pacific (Zoustar) scored a third career black type win – and first in three years – when winning the Listed Abell Stakes for trainer Nick Ryan.

Indian Pacific, who has now won $761,000 in prizemoney, is a $110,000 Premier Yearling Sale buy for Parnham Racing from the draft of his breeder Bowness Stud.