The Ciaron Maher stable is aware Estriella has tested the patience of punters in Group 1 races throughout her career, but it is confident she can yet make a mark at the highest level, starting with Saturday’s $750,000 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield.
The daughter of I Am Invincible will be one of three runners for Maher, with Black Caviar Lightning late scratching I Am Me joining Jimmysstar in the 1100-metre handicap.
Estriella has led most of her races in the past 12 months but has been taught to relax this preparation and Maher’s assistant trainer Turnbull is impressed with how she has adapted to that technique.
“We’ve taught her to take a sit, not that she hasn’t been able to in the past, but we’ve tried to use her speed whereas now, if we want her to be getting a strong six furlongs, she just needs to able to relax that first half,” Turnbull said.
“She’s done that in two jumpouts and hopefully she does that Saturday.”
Estriella has contested four Group 1 races and been favourite in two of them with her best result a fourth placing in last year’s Moir Stakes (1000m) won by Mornington Glory.
She has spent this campaign in Maher’s Cranbourne stable, which Turnbull said agreed with her.
“We’ve had her at Cranbourne the whole time, rather than Fingal, and you can tell the difference,” he said.
“She’s not as wired, she’s a bit more chilled out and that just comes with age. We haven’t done anything special, it’s just the environment.”
Blake Shinn will be reunited with Estriella in the Oakleigh Plate with Nash Rawiller to partner I Am Me and Ethan Brown to go aboard Jimmysstar.
Mrs Chrissie was also among the entries, alongside the likes of Mornington Glory, Rey Magnerio, Sghirripa, Arabian Summer, She’s Bulletproof, Ashford Street and Espionage, but is not yet a confirmed starter.
The race was identified as the most suitable kick-off point for Jimmysstar, who last preparation resumed with a dazzling win over Ashford Street and Rey Magnerio over 1100m at Caulfield.
“The 1100 is at the bottom end of his trip, there’s no denying that, but given how the Oakleigh Plate is shaping and how he’s going, because he is in feeling sharp in his work, we feel it’s a good kick off point rather than going to the Abel Stakes the week after,” Turnbull said.
The Oakleigh Plate is one of three Group 1s at Caulfield on Saturday with Maher to be represented by Cherish Me, Icarian Dream and Wiltshire Square in the $2 million Blue Diamond Stakes with Semana likely to be his only runner in the $750,000 Futurity Stakes (1400m).
