Unbeaten filly Esha sets up big spring carnival with spectacular return at The Valley
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Shane Nichols believes he has the ingredients for a profitable spring with Esha after the speedy filly remained unbeaten at The Valley.
Esha easily won her maiden on debut in South Australia in March but had little trouble bringing that form to Melbourne Saturday grade in the 3YO Handicap (1000m).
A quick beginning left Esha to find the lead easily inside 200m before dashing away to post her second win from as many starts by a comfortable 3½ lengths.
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Nichols said his confidence increased when rival filly Bacash was pushed to stay in touch with Esha a long way from home.
'I suppose when Bacash was niggling up outside her just to stay in touch early, I thought we were in a pretty good position,' Nichols said.
'She quickened up like we saw in her trials and we saw in Adelaide.
'When they're short, you like them to do what they're supposed to and she did what she's supposed to do.
'I think we've got the ingredients of a really nice filly going forward.' — 7HorseRacing 🎠(@7horseracing) August 9, 2025
Saturday's $150,000 was the first in what could be a lengthy spring campaign for the Extreme Choice filly.
Nichols said he would consider a trip to Sydney for a Group 2 race for Esha's next start but he also wanted to test the daughter of his former stable star I Am A Star on other circuits.
'Potentially, she could go to the Silver Shadow in Sydney in two weeks at 1200(m),' Nichols said.
'But her (welfare comes) first, there's a long spring ahead.
'There's a lot of opportunities for a three-year-old filly so I'm mindful of the fact that if we do win a fillies stakes race, we get penalties against the boys.
'I would like to let her have a look at the straight.
'There's a whole lot of things I'd like to cram into a period so getting it right is the tricky bit.'
Petit Artiste completed a Mornington-trained quinella when he ran on soundly to grab second ahead of the consistent Oyster Lane, from the Ciaron Maher stable.
Originally published as Shane Nichols filly Esha sets up big spring carnival with spectacular return at The Valley Horse Racing
The decision to abandon the Group 2 Missile Stakes has perplexed trainers after the Premier's Cup Prelude was moved from Saturday's called off Randwick meeting. Horse Racing
After nearly 16 months on the sidelines, Group 1-winning sprinter Queman will make his return in Saturday's Group 3 Behemoth Stakes at Morphettville.
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