High-class four-year-old mare Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel) has headed to Melbourne to chase a Group One target in preference to the A$7.5 million Golden Eagle (1500m).
The Jamie Richards-trained daughter of Savabeel finished eighth in the Gr.3 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) fresh-up behind Atishu and was sixth in the Gr.3 Angst Stakes (1600m) last start.
“She’s just had no luck. She got shuffled back to last at her first run over there and then got caught three deep with no cover with the big weight last time,” Richards said.
“I thought she stuck to her guns quite well. James (McDonald, jockey) was a bit critical of his ride getting caught deep. He said she didn’t run that badly.
“We have put her on a truck to Melbourne and she will run in the Empire Rose (Gr.1, 1600m) and more than likely she will back up in the Matriarch (Gr.2, 2000m) a week later.”
A $300,000 Karaka purchase by Te Akau principal David Ellis, Amarelinha was last season’s New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year, where her pin-up victory came in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m).
