Dropped back in grade from G1 races at her past two starts, talented I Am Invincible mare Estriella came out humming in the $300,000 Group II MRC Millennium Sprint (1000m) and had enough left at the finish to post a narrow win.
Trained by Ciaron Maher and ridden by Ben Melham, Estriella was allowed to use her brilliance and sped away to lead throughout and win by a head over the late closing Rey Magnerio.
With Ciaron Maher in Sydney for The Everest won by the stable’s iron lady Bella Nipotina, Jack Turnbull was on hand to welcome Estriella back to winning form.
"Yeah, she' s mixed it the best as we know. She was wide in the Moir and then she did a bit of work in the Manikato and it didn't work out. So we've reset, come back in trip, did well today,” said Jack Turnbull.
“She's carried 59 (kilograms), soft track, it's not her go. It's fantastic for Kevin and Vicky (Payne, owners), group two win now. We can have a look at some major sprints at the end of the carnival."
Ben Melham was delighted with Estriella, although the race did not pan out as he first thought.
"She's a good mare, things probably haven't quite gone her way in group one company and she drew one which was a little concern the way the track's racing today and it was actually my intention to get a little cover if the race layout permitted but she flew out and I didn't want to take the lead away from her when she was able to lead comfortably,” he said.
“She was running good sections and held them all the way to the line, albeit she'd had enough on the line but good to see her back in the winner's circle."
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 five wins and two seconds from 11 starts with prizemoney topping $1.3million.
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 blueblood Lonhro mare 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 a yearling colt by The Autumn Sun and has foaled this spring producing a filly by Maurice (Jpn).
