Estrange steps up for Lester Piggott challenge
David O'Meara's daughter of Night Of Thunder finished her three-year-old campaign by securing Listed honours at Doncaster and while connections are hesitant about conditions on Merseyside, they have decided now is the time to roll the dice in Group-race company.
'We've been hoping for a bit of easy ground for her and the forecast is not ideal, but I think we'll probably let her take her chance over a mile and a half,' said Chris Richardson, managing director of owners Cheveley Park Stud.
Two wins from three runs! Estrange weaves through the field to victory in the Listed Gillies Fillies' Stakes for @the_doyler and @omeararacing at @DoncasterRaces… pic.twitter.com/9Yu0tqrnw8
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 9, 2024
'The ground is drying, but it's a good starting place and we can plot from there and try to find some easy ground throughout the summer.
'Her pedigree suggests she'll stay, ideally we might have liked to start her over a mile and a quarter but we've got to go where the rain is, so this is a race that slots in quite nicely.'
Estrange holds a couple of Group One entries later in the year, with her team optimistic she could reach that lofty level in due course.
Richardson added: 'David is quite comfortable with trying a mile and a half and if we're right, the entry in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, which was hopeful rather than anything else, might come to fruition.
'Things just didn't go her way at Yarmouth and I blame myself for running her on that ground, but the form is rock solid and it was nice to see her run so positively at the back end of last year.'
John and Thady Gosden claimed this contest with Queen Of The Pride 12 months ago and will attempt to repeat the dose with impressive Goodwood scorer Shaha, who like Estrange is lightly raced and taking her first leap into deeper waters.
'She's a filly we've always liked and has always had plenty of size and scope about her,' said Thady Gosden.
'She's really matured well from three to four and the Thoroughbred Corporation bought her as a filly to run in nice races as both a three- and four-year-old.
'To win on just her second start in Listed company was great considering she is still a pretty inexperienced filly and she picked up nicely and showed a good turn of foot that day. You would like to think stepping up now to Group Three company will be no problem for her.'
William Haggas will saddle Chorus in a race named after his late father-in-law and a contest he has won three times in the last six years.
There is quality action for the sprinters in the Betfred 'The Classic Bookmaker' Achilles Stakes, which sees Richard Hughes in search of some kind underfoot conditions for No Half Measures and Karl Burke's Royal Ascot winner Leovanni make her seasonal bow.
Also returning to the track is Clive Cox's Jasour, who seeks to tee-up a trip to the Royal meeting a week later than planned in this five-furlong Listed event.
'He was meant to run last Saturday but had a bruised foot which we've had to deal with,' said Cox.
'It's a five-furlong contest and I would have preferred to have run him over six, but having missed last Saturday this was the only option available before Royal Ascot and hopefully it will tee him up nicely.
'Like all sprinters, it's nice to get a run under their belt and we're looking forward to it.'
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