Amarelinha Confirmed for NZ Oaks

www.raceform.co.nz - Richard Edmunds - reports -

An autumn itinerary has been confirmed for one of New Zealand's most exciting three-year-old talents.

Amarelinha produced a breathtaking performance in the Gr. 2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies' Classic at Te Rapa in her last start on February 13, blowing her rivals away by four and a half lengths.

The dazzling performance left the Savabeel filly's connections with some thinking to do. Her original target was the Gr. 1 New Zealand Oaks at Trentham on March 20, but trainer Jamie Richards and the Te Akau Hopskip'n'jump Syndicate also considered making a late nomination payment for the Gr. 1 New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie two weeks earlier.

The TAB made Amarelinha a clear favourite for both races, heading the Derby market at $2.50 and the Oaks at $1.80.

Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis confirmed to RaceForm on Wednesday morning that Amarelinha will run at Ellerslie on March 6, but it won't be in the Derby.

“Our filly will run in the Sunline Vase, then the New Zealand Oaks at Trentham,” he said. “After that, all going well, she'll go to the Oaks in Sydney.”

Bought by Ellis for $300,000 from the draft of breeder Waikato Stud in Book 1 of Karaka 2019, Amarelinha has made a huge impression in her five-start career to date.

After finishing second on debut behind subsequent Gr. 1 Levin Classic placegetter Wild Moose, Amarelinha scored back-to-back victories at Ellerslie including in the Gr. 2 Eight Carat Classic on Boxing Day.

She lost no admirers with a close second in a titanic struggle in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic at Ellerslie on January 23 - beaten by a head by the undefeated Aegon, who went on to make a spectacular Australian debut in last weekend's Gr. 2 Hobartville Stakes in Sydney.

The removal of Amarelinha from New Zealand Derby contention leaves Gr. 2 Avondale Guineas winner Rocket Spade as the $3.20 favourite ahead of Montre Moi at $3.80. Last-start Gr. 2 Waikato Guineas-winning filly Tokorangi is at $6, sharing the third line of favouritism with the Listed winner Milford.

Meanwhile, Amarelinha remains a dominant New Zealand Oaks favourite at $1.70. Slave to Love, who finished a well-beaten second in the Fillies' Classic, is the only other runner in single figures at $8, while Tokorangi and Cheaperthandivorce are both rated $10 chances.

Amarelinha also heads the TAB's fixed-odds betting for the Gr. 1 Australian Oaks at Randwick on April 10. She is currently rated a $5 chance, with Group One-winning Australian fillies Montefilia and Personal sharing second favouritism at $8.

Meanwhile, victories in the Sunline Vase and New Zealand Oaks would also confirm Amarelinha as the winner of the 2020-21 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series. She currently tops the table with 16 points, with three legs of the 11-race series remaining.