Esperance to make city debut at Sandown
After creating a big impression winning an Echuca maiden at his first race start, Esperance will command plenty of attention when he makes his city debut at Sandown.
The Godolphin-owned, James Cummings-trained three-year-old won by eight lengths at Echuca over 1100m on July 27 and shares the second line of betting in the TAB fixed odds market for October’s $2 million Group One Caulfield Guineas (1600m).
Esperance is an acceptor for Wednesday’s Sheamus Mills Bloodstock Handicap, a 1200m benchmark-64 for three-year-olds.
Craig Williams, who clinched his sixth Melbourne jockeys’ premiership in the 2016-17 season which finished last month, takes the ride on Esperance who has equal top weight of 60kg in the field of eight.
Esperance is at $11 for the Caulfield Guineas alongside his stablemate Kementari, Group One Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Invader and Blue Diamond Stakes runner-up Pariah.
Unbeaten colt Royal Symphony is the $7 Guineas favourite and is slated to make his season return in the Listed Exford Plate (1400m) at Flemington next month.