Talented mare Essonne returned to winning ways with a deserved success at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
Bred and raced by Gerry Harvey, the Richard Litt-trained daughter of Westbury Stud resident Reliable Man finished too well for her open opposition over 1400 metres for the seventh win of her 22-start career.
Essonne last victory was also on the course having triumphed in the Listed Silk Stocking 14 months ago but in between times she had collected four placings.
They included including a runner-up finish in the Listed Sunshine Coast Cup and a third in the Listed Civic Stakes.
On Saturday, Essonne drifted to be third last on the fence and when she was angled into the clear by apprentice Bailey Wheeler, she let down strongly to swamp her rivals.
“She came up here in great order and has raced up to it,” said Billy Healey, who trains on the course and looks after the mare when sent to Queensland by the Sydney-based Litt.
“When she won the Silk Stocking, she came from a mile back and mowed them down and she’s done it again.
“Richard said he wanted her in the second half of the field again and she was too strong late in the piece.”
Essonne is out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Riviere, who is back in foal to Reliable Man.
She was successful on three occasions and is a half-sister to the G2 Caulfield Sprint winner First Command and the G2 HKJC Sprint winner Oneworld.
