Early return for Esha at Flemington races

Esha’s appearance as a $6.50 chance in a weight-for-age Group 1 at just her third start only months ago suggests Saturday’s summer sprint should be well within her grasp.

Trainer Shane Nichols is nevertheless treating the assignment with respect as the filly returns to competition.

The Extreme Choice filly resumes in Saturday’s $150,000 Jockey Celebration Sprint at Flemington, and while Nichols is pleased with her preparation, including a sharp 1000-metre jumpout win at Balnarring on New Year’s Eve, he acknowledges the race brings several challenges.

“It’s not a fait accompli; she’s got 60 (kilos), she’s 1100 (metres) first-up off one trial and is down the straight first time,” Nichols said.

“So, there are a few variables there that we don’t know about. But, physically, she looks very good, her work’s been good and she’s sound and well.”

Esha’s first-up credentials are faultless, having won on debut at Morphettville in May before returning to score again at Moonee Valley in August.

That success prompted Nichols to throw her straight into the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m), where she finished eighth, repeating the result in the Group 3 Champagne Stakes (1200m) later in the spring.

The Mornington trainer believes the $900,000 Magic Millions yearling is capable of returning to Stakes level form and sees Saturday’s assignment as an ideal launchpad.

“This is just a nice lead into the Peter Le Grand Stakes, a Group 3 over 1100 at Caulfield in four weeks,” Nichols said.

“So she’ll have that run under her belt and, because she went out early in the spring, she didn’t have a hard spring.

“She’s still quite immature, but she’s certainly furnished better now.”

Markets are open with major betting platforms for the Jockey Celebration Sprint, giving punters plenty of ways to assess the race.

Lachlan Neindorf takes the ride at Flemington, where Esha has drawn barrier 12 and sits on the $4 second line of betting behind Military Tycoon ($3.50).

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