Shane Nichols’ flying filly Esha (Extreme Choice) faces a pivotal test in Friday night’s Scarborough Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at The Valley. The well-bred three-year-old returns to racing against her own age and gender after tackling the older horses in the Moir Stakes (Gr 1, 1000m) last start, finishing a very respectable eighth.
“It looks an ideal race for her,” Nichols, who now trains in partnership with Hayden Black, told Racing.com. “We’ll decide where we go, we’ll talk to the ownership group after that about whether we potentially go to a Coolmore or whether we stay on a fillies path.” Nichols revealed Esha had excuses in the Moir Stakes, where she finished 2.6 lengths off winner Baraqiel.
“She got galloped on, had a little wound on her hind pastern but it cleaned up pretty quickly and she was back to normal,” he explained. “Damian Lane came out and galloped her last week, she worked well. Then her normal rider Yasmin just gave her a gallop Tuesday morning. I think she probably presents up in pretty good shape.” While all three of Esha’s career starts have been over 1000 metres, Nichols is confident about the step up to six furlongs. “I don’t think it’s any concern,” he said.
“Her mother was a strong miler, she relaxes really well, she’ll be up on speed probably not doing a lot of work unless they tear along, in which case, she might even take a sit. I wouldn’t think it’d be any dramas.” Mark Zahra takes the ride from barrier six.
Esha was purchased from Newgate Farm at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and is raced in conjunction with Hollymount Stud.
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