Amelia's Jewel to be aimed at WA spring riches

 

This article was written by Bren O'Brien for TDN Australia & New Zealand

Boom Western Australian filly Amelia's Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) may be headed to the paddock after her sensational win in the G2 Karrakatta Plate at Ascot on Saturday, but owner/breeder Peter Walsh and trainer Simon Miller are already plotting her spring targets.

Amelia's Jewel, conceived in France, foaled and weaned at Segenhoe Stud and then prepared for the racetrack at Walsh's Amelia Park in Western Australia, has made a huge impression in her three starts this campaign.

She won the Listed Supremacy S. on debut for Miller, then backed that up with a similarly comfortable win in the G3 Gimcrack S. in March and then justified her odds-on quote with a 2.5l romp from back in the field in Western Australia's premier 2-year-old race.

Peter Walsh

Having pulled up shinsore, her campaign will not continue, much to the chagrin to those in the Eastern states who feel she could measure up near the top 2-year-olds in the country. She instead will be aimed up at a couple of WA 3-year-old features in the spring with a trip across the Nullarbor unlikely before next autumn.

"We will aim her up at the (G3 WA) Champion Fillies and then the (G2) WA Guineas. There are still some good races here for her for the spring. She’ll tackle them, have a spell and then Simon will get her up again," Walsh told TDN AusNZ.

"This time next year I’ll get Simon to pick a couple of races out for her. He''ll take her over and if she does well, we will leave her over there and look for a trainer over there."

"This time next year I’ll get Simon to pick a couple of races out for her (Amelia's Jewel). He'll take her over and if she does well, we will leave her over there and look for a trainer over there." - Peter Walsh

Miller and Walsh have had some talented horses together over the journey, including Lady Cosmology (Universal Ruler) and Archernar Star (Gingerbread Man {USA}) but it became apparent very early on that Amelia's Jewel was in another league.

"When she had her first gallop Simon said, 'You've got a good one here'. He said, 'You could put a parachute behind this girl and she’ll still beat those other good horses we had'. I thought she might be something special," Walsh said.

"Before even her first race, he said, 'I know you don’t bet, but get your money out and back her for the Karrakatta, she won't get beat'. To say that when she hadn't had a start was unbelievable."

The Amelia's Jewel story started in 2018 with an overseas trip to Royal Ascot for Walsh, with no intention to buy any horses.

"When we were at Newmarket, we went up to Juddmonte to see Frankel, and Kingman walked out and I just fell in love with him. I thought to myself, I might buy a mare over here for Kingman," he said.

"When Louis Le Metayer took us through France, I saw Siyouni and I fell in love with him too. I said, 'Go and buy two mares for me. I’ll send one to Kingman and one to Siyouni."

The following month at the Tattersalls July Sale, Le Metayer paid 75,000 gns (AU$138,000) for Bumbasina (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) and 45,000 gns (AU$83,000) for Bound Copy (USA) (Street Cry {Ire}). The former went to Siyouni and the later went to Kingman and both travelled out to Segenhoe.

"I sold the Kingman colt for $600,000 and I kept the Siyouni filly for the breeding," Walsh said.

The Siyouni filly made an immediate impression on Segenhoe Stud General Manager Peter O'Brien.

"She was a like a 2-year-old colt as a yearling. She was like that from the time she was born. She was a heavy robust filly, beautiful head and quality, with a big hip. She looked like she would be a 2-year-old, she seemed tailor-made to run early," he said.

"I've only seen four Siyouni's come through as foals but they are very similar to her. Robust, short-coupled, 2-year-old types. Physically, they look perfectly designed for Australian conditions."

Bumbasina subsequently had a Merchant Navy colt which sold for $160,000 at this year's Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale. Her Blue Point (Ire) weanling colt was described as 'an absolute belter' by O'Brien, as he is also expected to go through the sales ring, while the mare visited Capitalist last year with a likely booking to I Am Invincible later this year.

Walsh, who keeps eight or nine mares at Segenhoe, said he would consider sending Bumbasina back to Siyouni again in the future and he may consider looking for other mares to send to him.

 

Previous

Le Metayer puts his faith in Siyouni once again

Le Metayer puts his faith in Siyouni once again

With plenty of Australian activity at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale, buyers from the southern hemisphere made their presence felt during the first session of the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale yesterday with prominent agents Louis Le Metayer, Damon Gabbedy and William Johnson all securing mares on the first day of the Deauville sale. 

Ace High fulfils Group One destiny

Ace High fulfils Group One destiny

A classic case of being in the right place at the right time led Rich Hill Stud’s John Thompson to the stable door of Ace High. 

Last Saturday was a special day for Astute Bloodstock

Last Saturday was a special day for Astute Bloodstock

Last Saturday was a special day for Astute Bloodstock given that each of our 5 runners rose to the occasion and won convincingly at Royal Randwick and Flemington. Our priority at work is to select and purchase future elite racehorses so it was a thrill to see 3 winning at Gr.2 level. 

Amelia's Jewel All Class in Stocks Stakes

Amelia's Jewel All Class in Stocks Stakes

Given a positive ride by Damian Lane, Amelia's Jewel needed a track record-breaking performance to capture Friday night's Group II Ladbrokes Stocks Stakes at Moonee Valley. 

Q&A with Louis Le Metayer

Q&A with Louis Le Metayer

Q&A with Louis Le Metayer 

 

Eliyass Keeps his Australian Record Perfect in Kingston Town Stakes
News



Ownership Opportunities
   
The pursuit of top horses continues in Europe this spring.
Video
 

Racetrack Success
Racing Success
   
Who is the best stallion for your mare?
Video