Chris Waller knows he has a good one in Espiona but is still working out where her future lies as she starts her spring campaign in the Sheraco Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.
At a meeting where Waller has started mares bound for The Everest in the past, Espiona goes in tuned up for a winning return.
The premier trainer has used this day with Arcadia Queen, which won the Theo Marks Stakes three years ago, before Haut Brion Her raced into contention for Australia’s richest prize by winning the Sheraco Stakes in 2020.
Espiona wins the James Carr Stakes back in April.Credit:Getty
Espiona is a $26 chance for The Everest, and a dynamic display in the Sheraco would attract interest of slot-holders and take her a long way towards meeting the boom on her after a 6½-length demolition of fellow fillies in Melbourne Cup week last year.
“It is a good day for her to start. We have been here with mares before,” Waller said. “She’s ready to go, and she could have run last week in the Concorde Stakes.
“She has done plenty of work at home and has been ready to go for a long time.”
Espiona has only had one barrier trial, which suggests that she will be fresh and ready to fire first-up. Waller has been careful with his placement of her so far, particularly on the soft tracks during the autumn, so she has only had six starts heading into her four-year-old year.
“We are still working her out and the wet tracks have made that hard for us,” Waller said.
“I’m hoping we don’t get too much rain again. She is pretty good and she will show us where she sits.”
Espiona is the $3.40 second pick in betting behind emerging sprinter Shades Of Rose ($3.10), which jumps into stakes company for the first time after a hat-trick of benchmark victories.
Waller will be looking to the future, rather than for victory, in the Run To The Rose with JJ Atkins runner-up Political Debate, which is rated a $15 hope.
“He is on a Guineas prep and it is a good starting point for him,” Waller said.
“It will keep him sharp. We need to get him started because it gives you the option of missing a race further down the track.
“He will be running on but will be better as he steps up in trip.”
Australian horse of the year Nature Strip will also have a cruise around Rosehill as he prepares to defend his Everest crown next month. He will have a gallop between races to top off his preparation for The Shorts next week.
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