The $200,000 Group III MRC Senet Peter Le Grand Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday was won in commanding style by exciting filly Estriella and then later in the day five year-old mare Real Danger won the Listed WATC Cyril Flower Stakes (1200m) at Bunbury to make it four stakes-winners on the day for I Am Invincible.
The Ciaron Maher trained filly was resuming from a spell after four previous starts that included a second in the Group II ATC Silver Shadow Stakes and a second to Caballus, who came out and won the Group III ATC Eskimo Prince at Randwick earlier in the day.
She was sent out favourite and loomed up out wide for Blake Shinn before powering away to win by two lengths over last season’s Group winner Lazzago, who turned h in her best effort this season.
A $750,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the Arrowfield Stud draft, Estriella runs for stable client clients Mr and Mrs Kevin Payne and has the overall record of two wins and two placings from five starts with prizemoney topping $233,000.
"She showed really good ability last time round, but she was always a bit immature in her action, she spent a lot of her last prep up at the beach at Newcastle as she couldn't handle normal training on a track,” said Ciaron Maher.
“She was always going to improve and I think she'll continue to improve as she gets older, that was pretty impressive.
"I said to Blake going out, just ride her smooth, there's only one turn, I don't mind where you are, gee she was very impressive so it's great to get another good horse in the stable for Kevin (Payne) and Lleyton."
Bred by Arrowfield in partnership, Estriella is a half-sister to Group IIII placed two year-old Love Poem and is the first winner for Madrigals, a full sister to Golden Slipper winner and Champion 2YO Colt Pierro and half-sister to Group II winner Ambience.
Madrigals was bought from Godolphin at the 2017 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock for $425,000 and was sent to Japan in her first season at stud for a covering to Deep Impact which resulted in a filly called Polyphonic that placed three times from five starts before being retired to stud. She sadly died last year after producing just one foal, a colt by Maurice (Jpn).
Madrigals has no yearling for the sales this year, but did produce a colt by The Autumn Sun last year and is now in foal to Maurice.
There are six yearling in upcoming sales from the family of Estriella, click here to see them.
Estriella is the 105th stakes-winner for Yarraman Park’s champion sire and is his 13th this season.
