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Racing

Early return for Esha at Flemington

Speedy filly makes early return in 3YO fillies sprint at Flemington.

ESHA winning the SRM in Multis Handicap at Moonee Valley in Australia.
ESHA winning the SRM in Multis Handicap at Moonee Valley in Australia. Picture: Racing Photos

Given Esha started $6.50 in a weight-for-age Group 1 at just her third start only four months ago, you'd think an off-season three-year-old fillies sprint would be easy pickings.

But trainer Shane Nichols is not taking anything for granted with his daughter of Extreme Choice and I Am A Star.

Esha returns in Saturday's $150,000 Jockey Celebration Sprint at Flemington and while Nichols is happy with her preparation, including an impressive 1000m Balnarring jumpout win on New Year's Eve, he concedes the 1100-metre race is a good test.

"It's not a fait accompli; she's got 60 (kilos), she's 1100 (metres) first-up off one trial and is down the straight first time," the Mornington trainer, who operates in partnership with Hayden Black, said.

"So, there are a few variables there that we don't know about. But, physically, she looks very good, her work's been good and she's sound and well."

One thing in her favour is an impeccable first-up record. A brilliant debut winner at Morphettville in May, Esha was put away and was even more impressive in stronger grade at Moonee Valley at her next start, on August 9.

The ease of that win prompted Nichols to test Esha in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at her third start, in which she finished eighth, the same position she occupied in the Group 3 Champagne Stakes (1200m) at the same track on September 26.

Nichols is confident Esha, a $900,000 Magic Millions yearling, can get back to being a force in Stakes grade and considers Saturday's race a nice stepping stone to the Autumn Festival of Racing.

"This is just a nice lead into the Peter Le Grand Stakes, a Group 3 over 1100 at Caulfield in four weeks," Nichols said.

"So she'll have that run under her belt and, because she went out early in the spring, she didn't have a hard spring.

"She's still quite immature, but she's certainly furnished better now."

Lachlan Neindorf will become Esha's fifth different raceday jockey in as many starts at Flemington, where she has drawn barrier 12, and she holds down the $4 second line of betting behind Military Tycoon ($3.50).


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