Perth raider Amelia’s Jewel only did what was required for a first-up victory in Saturday’s Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
Jumping an odds-on favourite from the widest gate in a 14-horse field, she tracked into the race behind Lindsay Park mare Caste (Sir Prancelot) before cruising up to the leaders to score by a length from NZ-bred mare Life Lessons (Tavistock).
“She was dead-set still in second gear when we got to them,” winning jockey Damian Lane declared. “Then she just put the cue in the rack so there’s obviously more in the tank. She’s a casual customer with a lot more to give.”
Amelia’s Jewel (4m Siyouni – Bumbasina by Canford Cliffs) had won 7 of her 9 starts in the west prior to travelling east for the Melbourne spring carnival. Her next assignment will be the Group 2 Stock Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Friday evening, September 29.
Trainer Simon Miller admitted the Flemington win (pictured) was an easy watch. “It was a nice starting point over here and Damian still hadn’t moved on straightening. The exciting thing from our point of view is she’s not screwed down yet so there’s plenty of improvement to go.”
Amelia’s Jewel is a homebred for Peter Walsh and he’s still in two minds whether to keep her in Melbourne after the Stock Stakes or head to Sydney.
The inter-city rivalry reaches a crescendo on Saturday, October 28 with the G1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley clashing with the Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill.
She has firmed into $11 for Australia’s WFA Championship and is the $4 favourite for the fifth edition of the $10 million Golden Eagle.
“We’re pretty confident she can run the 2040m of the Cox Plate but why take the risk?” Walsh said prior to the Let’s Elope Stakes. “She did run out 1800m in the Northerly Stakes but I think 1500m would be closer to her pet distance.”
Whatever avenue awaits Amelia’s Jewel, she’s in good hands and her home-town fans can rest assured connections will put the horse first.
Hoofnote: Amelia’s Jewel’s half-brother Bosustow (Blue Point) appeared in the first 2yo trials of the season at Randwick on Monday morning. The Annabel Neasham-trained colt was ridden quietly by Ryan Maloney in the opening heat over 850m and was beaten a wide margin by Straight Charge (Written By).
