The hype surrounding Amelia’s Jewel knows no bounds ahead of her interstate debut in the G2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington this Saturday.
Trainer Simon Miller is a Melbourne homebred and he’s enjoying all the attention being focused on the best galloper to come out of WA since our Australian Horse of the Year Award winners Miss Andretti (2007) and Scenic Blast (2009).
“It’s pretty cool that everyone along the east coast wants to lay eyes on her,” Miller said. “I’ve got used to it as she keeps raising the bar, the media momentum gets stronger. I was ready for it and it’s a good problem to have because one day the phone won’t ring!”
Back home in the west, it’s been business as usual with Amelia Park’s colours seen to advantage for the second Thursday running at Northam. Royal Toronado (Toronado) celebrated the first win for Amelia Park with trainers Grant & Alana Williams in the Caduceus Maiden (1300m) on August 31.
Royal Toronado was named TBWA Winner of the Week and his dam Harada Queen (Haradasun) is owned by Amelia Park’s Peter Walsh in partnership with Brian Bradley and John Cipriani
Buckets Ridge doubled up for the same team in the TABtouch Maiden (1300m) last Thursday. He was hemmed in behind tiring longshot Infringement Miss (Demerit) before Willie Pike, as is his wont, found a gap on the short-priced favourite to score by over a length first-up after a winter spell.
A $75,000 buy for Neil Henchie from the Amelia Park consignment to the 2022 Perth Magic Millions, he had been unplaced twice in town behind Investmentstrategy (Playing God) in April.
Coolmore Stud stallion Pride of Dubai sired him from Reveille (High Chaparral) and that cross has a 90% strike-rate headed by She’s Fit (G3 WA Oaks). His dam won three races up to 1600m in Perth and she comes from the same very successful family as Royal Toronado.
Meanwhile, Amelia’s Jewel has firmed into an odds-favourite for the Let’s Elope Stakes following a brilliant track gallop at Flemington on Tuesday morning. “She was loafing and had a bit of a look around but clicked up in the straight,” Miller reported. “It was perfect going into a 1400m race first-up and she will be better for the experience here, too.”