Contract Racing struck for the second time in a week when Amaethon won Heat 7 of the Swettenham Stud Summer Championship on Saturday.

Owner-breeder David Moodie and co-trainers Mat Ellerton and Simon Zahra had won Heat 5 of the Series with Pillar Of Creation on January 4.

Amaethon (7g Al Maher – Crystal Snip by Snippets) took over at the top of the table with 17 points after pocketing maximum points in the Comedy King Hcp (1600m) at Flemington.  He had earned 7 points for finishing third in Heat 4 on New Year’s Day.

Amaethon has been a fantastic horse for the stable.  He had finished fourth in a red-hot two year-old race in April 2009 and since then has won 6 races and earned $470,000.  “He was second-up at Flemington and I remember saying they would want to be good to beat Amaethon,” Zahra said.  “But we bumped into Black Caviar!

“He’s been a lot of fun.  He’s come a long way and is still racing as a seven year-old despite bowing a tendon two years ago.   It’s has been a long road back and he racing better than ever.”

Amaethon is by Emirates Park sire Al Maher and is one of 9 winners foaled by Crystal Snip.  The others include G1 Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily and LR Dequettville Stakes winner Crystal Wit.