Veteran warhorse Petrology has returned to form ahead of a busy autumn for Amelia Park owner Peter Walsh.

Petrology (Fastnet Rock) is a last-start winner of the $150,000 Muswellbrook Gold Cup (1500m) and there’s more on the radar in Perth with Samizdat, Amelia’s on Fire, Friday Knight and Amelia’s Contraire all shaping nicely at the Belmont trials on Tuesday.

A $200,000 buy at the 2013 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, Petrology has returned $764,925 for connections.  Walsh races the 8yo gelding in a partnership that includes Seymour Bloodstock’s Darren Thomas and the latest win was his first since Moonee Valley in June 2017.

Initially based at Lindsay Park, he’s now with Newcastle-based Nathan Doyle who learned the trade with Peter and Paul Snowden and Mark Newnham.

Amelia Park’s local team is headed by Samizat (Not A Single Doubt) who won the G3 Asian Beau Stakes during a summer prep at Ascot.  He worked home nicely into a place without being pushed out by Jarrad Noske and will likely target upcoming feature sprints at Belmont.

Amelia’s on Fire (Sizzling) finished fourth in the same heat after making the pace for Chloe Azzopardi.  She won the Crown Perth 3yo Classic at Ascot in October before heading interstate for an unplaced finish in the G3 Red Roses at Flemington.

Walsh’s 2yo homebred Friday Knight (Artie Schiller) will be backed to win first-up off a very impressive 400m hit-out.  He bolted in by six lengths and there’s enough stamina in the pedigree to suggest he’s not just a one-dimensional, short-course horse.

His dam Fridays Girl (Footstepsinthesand) won at Pinjarra and Belmont in a short career for Lou Luciani.  She is a half-sister to Lethal Jones (LR Melvista Stakes) and Tonto (LR Ascot Gold Cup).

Amelia’s Contraire (Hinchinbrook) capped off a successful morning with a front-running win over 1000m.  She won at Ascot on Melbourne Cup day and trainer Simon Miller rates her a black-type prospect this year.

Walsh paid $200,000 for Amelia’s Contraire at the 2018 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.  The family added another Group 1 later that year when her older half-sister Media Sensation (I Am Invincible) won the NZ 1000 Guineas at Riccarton.

Amelia Park once again topped vendors at the 2020 Perth Magic Millions with 6 yearlings sold at an average of $112,500.  Topping its leader-board at $160,000 were the Pierro colt sold to Aquis Farm and the Street Boss filly bought by Tony McEvoy.

PETROLOGY
Muswellbrook Cup winner for Amelia Park and Seymour Bloodstock