Arc contender? Estrange creates huge impression at Haydock

Estrange looked all over a filly with a big future in taking the Betfred-sponsored Lester Piggott Fillies’ Stakes at Haydock.

Making her seasonal reappearance after three runs last year in which she was beaten only once and ended the campaign with a Listed triumph at Doncaster, the David O’Meara-trained four-year-old was ridden with confidence by Daniel Tudhope.

Still in cruise control on the outside of runners travelling for home, the 13-8 chance only had to be given the minimum of encouragement to account for market rival and favourite Shaha by four and a quarter lengths.

Put in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe by her Cheveley Park Stud connections at the first entry stage, that does not look too fanciful now.

Paddy Power cut her to 33s from 66-1 for Paris, while Coral also halved her odds to 25-1 from 50s.

O’Meara said: “Danny said she’s great to ride. She shuts down and saves energy, you can put her anywhere and give her a small squeeze and she comes alive. For me for the yard, for everyone it is brilliant to have a horse like her in the yard.

“She handles cut in the ground, she’s gone on good ground today. I think we’ll stay away from quick conditions, but the Pretty Polly (at the Curragh) could be considered or there’s a race back here, the Lancashire Oaks, and then the Yorkshire Oaks and if she is good enough it would be great to be considering Longchamp.

“Potentially she could be the best we’ve had.”

O’Meara has trained Group One winners like Amazing Maria, Mondialiste and G Force and he said Estrange’s talent was obvious from a very early stage. “We knew before she made her debut at Goodwood that she was very good,” he went on.

“You don’t gallop these sort of fillies every day. Goodwood was no surprise, Yarmouth was a disappointment, but I blame myself for that, Doncaster was then great.

“Today was a step up again, she looks like she’s progressed and I’m very, very lucky to have her.

“It never looked in doubt at any stage today.”

O’Meara was completing a double on the card following the earlier success of Stressfree.