Esternay Excellent

In the colours of Brendan and Jo Lindsay (Cambridge Stud), Esternay (3 f All Too Hard – Sezanne, by More Than Ready) recorded a huge victory in the A$40,000 Ladbrokes Owners Bonus Maiden 1400 metres on Friday at Cranbourne (Victoria).

Esternay had drawn the outside gate (12) and did well from back and wide to finish fourth when resuming in the Maiden 1210 metres on 25 February at Sale, running some of the best sectionals on the day, with Kiwi jockey Michael Dee, and the pair was given a similar task on this occasion.  

Trapped wide from the outside gate (10), Esternay continued progressing forward three wide to challenge turning for home and when warranted to show distress signals, she instead found another gear to win.

It was a skilled and no panic ride by Dee to keep her balanced and travelling kindly, given the tough trip, and due reward after Dee finished second in the same gold and black checked colours aboard stable-mate Signoretti (2 g Hello Youmzain – I Am Grande, I Am Invincible) earlier in the programme.

“I was confident after riding her fresh-up, but a little bit concerned with the gate, and the run we had wasn’t ideal,” Dee said.

“But the way the track played in the last three races, it probably worked in our favour, to be honest, ending up wide on the track. 

“It was a good, tough, effort after being exposed without cover and there’s plenty more in store for her.

“She’s always shown us good ability. She showed that at the trials, leading into her first start.

“She got a long way back at Sale, but improved and she’s on the way up.”

On Good4 footing, Esternay ran 1400 metres in 1:24.6, last 600m 35.5, to break through at her third start, and paid $6.00 & $2.00 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was a really good, tough, win, especially after not getting all favours in running, but she really pined her ears back and got to the line first,” said trainer Mark Walker.

“It’s great to have the support of Brendan & Jo (Lindsay) and Henry (Plumptre). They’ve got a lot of high-class mares in their broodmare band, to produce quality horses in the future, and Esternay fits that category as a filly with a beautiful pedigree.”

Her dam, Sezanne, won twice to 1250 metres and placed at Group One and Two level in Australia, leaving Joiselle (Snitzel), winner of three from four starts to 1200 metres, and grand-dam Champagne Harmony (Choisir) was a Group Two winning sprinter that left five individual winners of 11 races.

Most notably, fourth dam L’Quiz (L'Enjoleur), left sensational filly and mare Champagne (Zabeel), dual Group One winner of the Mackinnon Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m) and Ansett Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m), who formed a famous Zabeel quinella in the 1998 Melbourne Cup (Gr. 1, 3200m) when finishing second to Jezabeel (Zabeel).

L’Quiz also produced dual Group One and Group Two winning stallion St Reims (Zabeel).

“Cambridge Stud are going to be breeding such good horses out of a youngish broodmare band, with these fillies coming off the track,” Walker said.

“Esternay has been a filly that has been a bit highly strung, but Laura Winks has done a great job with her in track work. She has been very patient, encouraged her while building confidence, and she’s a filly that we’ll just step up quietly through the grades.”

The Australian Champion Three-Year-Old, sire All Too Hard is a half-brother to unbeaten champion Black Caviar (Bel Esprit), who won all 25 of her starts including 15 Group One. 

Winning three times as a two-year-old, All Too Hard won three Group One races over 1400 metres in Australia: All Aged Stakes, Futurity Stakes, C. F. Orr Stakes, and now made his mark as a sire with progeny winning over 1700 races, including 72 stakes wins.

Assistant trainer Ben Gleeson, said: “It’s great to have the support of the team at Cambridge Stud. Since Te Akau set up in Australia, they’ve given us some very well-bred horses to train.

“She’s a lovely style of All Too Hard filly, out of Group One placed mare, but she’s taken a while to get there mentally.

“Julien Welsh (Booralite Park) has done some work with this filly, as well, and we must pay a lot of credit to Laura Winks, who rides her every day. 

“She’s a lot more settled now. I think she’ll appreciate getting out to a mile, steadily getting there and I think she’ll be a lovely four-year-old mare.

“Whatever she does now, with TLC and no rush, she can put a few more wins on the board.”

Esternay was strapped by Laura Winks.