Te Akau Stable Star Of The Month - March
Date: 13 Apr 2021
One of our 'it' girls of the moment is one that deserves to be in the spotlight after her stunning season so far... it's fair to say she deserves the title as our Te Akau Stable Star Of The Month of March.
Introducing Isla, A filly with tremendous physicality, Amarelinha (3 f Savabeel - Hopscotch, by O'Reilly) secured the prestigious New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series with a conclusive victory in the New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) on 20 March at Trentham.
In the process, she became the sixth NZB Filly of the Year for Te Akau and its third Group 1 Oaks' winner. Her Oaks' win was also the 83rd Group One victory for national record holder and stable rider Opie Bosson. The pair is now preparing for the $1m Australian Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) on Saturday 17 April at Randwick.
Amarelinha also provided six-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel) with his 22nd Group One win, and trainer Jamie Richards with his 44th - now 45 after Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) winner On the Bubbles won the Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) on Easter Saturday.
Bred and offered for sale by Waikato Stud at the 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale, Amarelinha was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM and is owned by the Te Akau Hopskip'n'jump Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).
Following a debut second in November, Amarelinha has won five of her seven starts, with two second placings. She scored other Group victories in the Eight Carat Classic (Gr. 2, 1600m), David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (Gr. 2, 2000m) and Sunline Vase (Gr. 3, 2100m), and was a very close up second in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Restricted Listed, 1600m) - winning $518,700 to date.
Amarelinha is the first foal out of the unraced mare Hopscotch (O'Reilly), herself a sister to Sitting Pretty, the dam of Aspiration Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) winner Missybeel (Savabeel), and a three-quarter sister to Up In Lights (O'Reilly), the dam of Group Three winner and Group One placed three-year-old colt North Pacific (Brazen Beau). Hopscotch is also a half-sister to stakes'-placed Southern Venture (Zabeel) and four-time Group One winner Metal Bender (Danasinga).
Metal Bender won nine races in Australia, and was named 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 and represented by only a select band of mares in New Zealand.
Through the sire line of Savabeel, as sire of Sir Tristram, and the dam line of grand-dam sire Bluebird, Amarelinha carries a bloodline cross to 1968 Epsom Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m) winner Sir Ivor (Sir Gaylord). Once said by legendary hoop Lester Piggott to be the best horse he ever rode.
On Betfair, Amarelinha is currently $6.00 equal second favourite for the Australian Oaks.
Te Akau's other NZB Filly of the Year winners are Shikoba, Insouciant, Princess Coup, King's Rose and Cosa Viva.
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