At Royal Randwick on Saturday two of our talented performers won rich Spring Carnival races within 40 minutes of each other to give Star one of our most memorable race days ever.

ESPIONA announced herself as a highly talented filly two years ago at Flemington with a huge win on VRC Oaks day and since then she has won at Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 level. Her very determined win in The Invitation, the $2 million feature race for fillies and mares on Saturday was a huge “pay day” for her owners with the daughter of super stallion Extreme Choice now having earned close to $3 million. Kerrin McEvoy was aboard ESPIONA as she travelled wide with cover for the middle part of the 1,400 metres race and then peeled out on straightening to power to the line for a narrow but very strong win. ESPIONA is racing in the best form of her career as a now 5 year old mare and hopefully we can anticipate that she has more to offer yet over the next couple of years.

Three year old colt CHRYSAOR delivered what we had felt he could, a Group win against his own age and in this instance his owners were the beneficiaries of him winning the 1,600 metres $1 million Group 2 Callander-Presnell at Royal Randwick. A great ride by in form jockey Tyler Schiller had the colt settle back in the field early, travelling well under no pressure with the blinkers having been removed prior to his recent eye catching barrier trial. In behind a “wall of horses” midway down the home straight, Tyler needed to think quickly to navigate a new passage having been initially blocked for a run through option #1. He found “clear air” in time to score right on the line and the good looking son of Better Than Ready notched up his first Group win with the big value race giving his owners a great result on a major race day at “headquarters”.

Our thanks to team Chris Waller Racing and Brett Howard from Randwick Bloodstock Agency with whom we work at yearling sale time. It was simply “one of those days” – not to forget.

Congratulations to the winning ESPIONA owners Leon Mugavin, McLeish Family Racing (Manager: David McLeish), Felgate Holdings (Manager: Paul Felgate), Anne Hickey, Boeara Holdings (Manager: Denise Dunphy), Paramount Racing, Martin Ive, Rachel Ive, Macedon Park Pty Ltd (Manager: Margie Sheldon), Dianne Handley, CGO Racing.

Congratulations to the winning CHRYSAOR owners Paramount Racing, Oliver Enriquez, Martin Ive, Rachel Ive, Bell View Park Stud (Manager: Adam Mackrell), Vincent Ip, Mark Rolfe, Raelene Glasgow, Maureen Rusk, Greg Dakin, CGO Racing, Anne Howlett, Gregg Rigby, Shane Williams.