Ciaron Maher weighs up $1m race or Group 1 for Sunlight Classic winner Estriella
Estriella scorched her rivals in the Sunlight Classic at Flemington and trainer Ciaron Maher now has to decide whether her next target will be for prizemoney or prestige.
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Rising star Estriella has punctuated Group 1 ambitions with an electric display at Flemington in the Listed Sunlight Classic (1100m).
The three-year-old filly, trained by Ciaron Maher, scorched a trail to victory and stopped the clock in 1:02.31 – just outside the 1100m track record (1:02.15) set by Loveyamadly in 2013.
Estriella bettered the class record (1:02.69), held by eventual dual Group 1 and The Everest winner Giga Kick, in an awesome performance.
Estriella has won three on the bounce this campaign, including the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes and Inglis Sprint.
Maher has a prizemoney versus prestige dilemma to mull, with the $1m Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint in Sydney or Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes in Adelaide on the agenda.
Wowza! 💥
— 7HorseRacing 🎠(@7horseracing) March 30, 2024
Estriella is far too good for them in the Sunlight Classic. 🤩@cmaherracing@blake_shinnpic.twitter.com/qgyZ1MFbjY
“The Arrowfield is a very good money race but the Sangster is a very good lure with the Group 1,” Maher said.
“I’d say we might end up in Adelaide … with time, if we’re kind to her she’ll be kind to us.”
Estriella hurtled along with four sub-11 second sectionals from the 1000m to the 200m before an 11.58sec last 200m – fastest of the race – to finish.
“She is a horse that has got so much in front of her. She’s got an immature action and we tinker away with her. She’s not there mentally either,” Maher said.
“It is about holding her together, harnessing her, she’s got so much in front of her.”
Jockey Blake Shinn, who sealed a race-to-race double with Sea What I See and Estriella, was in awe of the explosive filly.
“It was just like a track gallop, the way we treated it,” Shinn said.
“She was super. Well done to Ciaron. He’s got a great handle on her.
“Anywhere from 1000m to 1200, I think she’s destined for a Group 1, this horse. She’s pretty special.
“I feel honoured to be riding a horse of this calibre at this point in time.”
Originally published as Ciaron Maher weighs up $1m race or Group 1 for Sunlight Classic winner Estriella
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