Te Akau Boxing Day Bonanza - Win 6 of 6 - Amarelinha

Bought for her resemblance to stable-mate Probabeel (Savabeel), a dual Group 1 winner in Australia, Amarelinha  (3 f Savabeel - Hopscotch, by O'Reilly) will get a chance to emulate the brilliant filly in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic, after another impressive win on Boxing Day at Ellerslie.

Having made amends for a nose margin defeat on debut with an impressive victory on the course three weeks earlier, in the Maiden 1300 metres, trainer Jamie Richards had no hesitation in gunning for a stakes race with the imposing filly. 

It was another masterful ride by Opie Bosson, negating a wide draw (12) and coming from 11^thwith a withering turn of foot to pummel her rivals in the $100,000 Jamieson Park Eight Carat Classic (Group 2, 1600m).

Winning by one and a quarter lengths in 1:35.0, last 600m in 34, Amarelinha paid $2.70 & $1.50 on the NZ TAB tote. 

“I waited and waited and when we turned for home I let her go and went past them so quick,” Bosson said. “The only reason I gathered her up, she looked at the crowd and pricked her ears. She's still learning, but an exciting horse.”

After notching five wins on the programme, it seemed inevitable that Amarelinha would make it six for trainer Jamie Richards and sure enough, without a moments doubt, it became reality.

“We had a good team of horses that had prepared well for today, but to come up here (Ellerslie) on arguably one of the biggest days and win six races is a true credit to all the staff and to Dave (Ellis) in the way he has built up his clientele and bought the horses. It's a very exciting day for everyone concerned. 

“Amarelinha has taken awhile to get there, but she's a big, imposing, filly with a great pedigree. By the right stallion, with that good brand (WS (Waikato Stud) on her, too, so thrilled for everybody.

“We've got some of our most loyal as well as new owners involved and she will back here in a month,” said Richards, referring to the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Restricted Listed, 1600m) on 23 January. 

“She won a trial in August at Te Teko, like a good horse, and the form always fronts up out of those. We thought she would be a 1000 Guineas filly, but annoying little things went wrong: trouble with her feet and a temperature, here and there, but to be fair the extra time she's had has been a blessing and it was a very dominant performance today.

“She's a bit fierce in training, but a good doing filly and she licks the feed bowl clean every night. She's down at the Middle Barn with Nicole Shailer and Sam Bergerson, who are doing a wonderful job as well as everybody else.

“She's right up there with the best and the way she's put together suggests up to 2000 metres and a mile and a half is going to be no problem for her. So, we're really looking forward to after Christmas and into her four-year-old season. 

“It's been a great day for the team and a lot of hard work by Dave and Karyn, and a lifetime of work by Dave to get these results. 

“We didn't train a winner on Boxing Day last year and he said to me: “If anybody will change that, you'll do it”. We've got a great relationship and it's beautiful to be a part of it. 

“The girls in the office, Lena (Jones) and Libby (Richards) were calling me the Christmas Grinch because all I was looking forward to was Boxing Day, but there is a lot of hard work goes in behind the scenes. You've obviously got to lead from the front, but we've got a great team of staff and a great team of owners, so it's a great recipe.”

Purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $300,000 at the 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Waikato Stud, she is owned by the Te Akau Hopskip'n'jump Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

Amarelinha is from the family of Rosehill Guineas (Gr. 1, 2000m) winner Metal Bender (Danasinga), a son of grand-dam Jacqwin (Bluebird). Metal Bender won nine races in Australia, and the title of top Australian 3YO in his year, while Jacqwin has left seven individual winners of 22 races. Her sire, Bluebird (Storm Bird), is a high quality influence in any pedigree, but represented by only a select band of mares in New Zealand. 

“What a thrill to win this great race and what a thrill it is to see so many people filling the stands and enjoying the day,” Ellis said.

“The Auckland Racing Club is making some good decisions and it's reflected in getting so many people to the races.

“I'd like to thank the sponsor, James Chapman (Jamieson Park), and his stud manager Sam Munro. They're doing an excellent job, investing in good broodmares and it's only a matter of time before they're rewarded with winning Group One races.

“I'd like to thank all the owners that have invested in this wonderful filly and you'd have to say she has been beautifully prepared by Jamie (Richards) and his team. 

“It's an honour to be associated with a stable that has won six races on Boxing Day at Ellerslie, just a huge thrill and one that will be hard to beat and enjoyed by so many people. 

“Also, I take my hat off to Karyn (Fenton-Ellis MNZM) for putting these syndicates together. She regularly works until midnight. She an absolute champion and it wouldn't happen without her love and support.”

Amarelinha was strapped by Sam Bergerson.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

Back