Amelie’s Star stamped herself as one of the most exciting staying prospects in Australia with a win in the 2015 Colin Stephen Quality. Photo by: Steve Hart
Amelie’s Star produced another strong staying performance to take out the 2015 Colin Stephen Quality at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon.
Amelie’s Star stepped up to Group 3 level after recording three straights wins and she faced easily the toughest test of her racing career to date, but she proved far too strong for her rivals and she finished over the top of King Kinshasa and Bohemian Lily to record a most impressive victory.
The Testa Rossa mare stamped herself as a stayer to watch when she recorded an eight lengths victory in a maiden at Hawkesbury on August 6 and Peter Moody’s Sydney stable representative Claire Cunningham has been thrilled with the progress that the four-year-old has made this preparation.
“She has been amazing,” Cunningham said.
“She is a quality mare and she has just shown today that she has another thing up her belt.
“Usually she has been winning on the pace, but she sat three pairs back today and it was just great to see that she still had a really strong turn-of-foot even off the pace.
“She has just taken a little while and she has been green, but I have been really surprised with the way she has coped with this prep and stepped up in leaps and bounds.”
Amelie’s Star’s win in the Colin Stephen Quality delivered jockey Josh Parr an early double following his win on Mr One Eleven in the opening race of the day, but the modest jockey did not take any credit for the victory.
Parr said that Amelie’s Star gave him an excellent feel throughout the Colin Stephen Quality and he believes that the talented mare has the ability to develop into one of the best stayers in the country.
“I think in six to 12 months time we could be looking at a really good stayer,” Parr said.
“Every start she has gone up in grade and today she has taken on some really seasoned stayers and she has made them look really, really ordinary.
“She travelled throughout the race really kindly, she didn’t overdo it and she was nice at relaxed.
“At the 1000 I asked her half a question just to let me know that it was there and within a stride she put herself up on to the bit.
“We were in a perfect position and striding up four deep I got to them in a couple of strides going really easy and it was just a matter of how she would let down and she let down in great fashion.
“It makes my job very easy when you turn up to the races and ride horses that are prepared in such good order.”
Amelie’s Star has not been included in the nominations for any of the major staying races during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival and the stable are yet to decide on their future plans with the progressive galloper.
