Promising filly Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel) made amends for a narrow defeat on debut with an impressive victory over 1300m at Ellerslie on Saturday.
The Jamie Richards-trained three-year-old had impressed with two trial victories before stepping out at Awapuni last month where she made up good ground late in the piece to be beaten by a nose by local runner Wild Moose.
A wide barrier draw (15) saw punters tread carefully on the weekend but they were well rewarded thanks to a class effort by jockey Craig Grylls who had the Savabeel filly one off the fence most of the way before Amarelinha burst away at the 200m to score easily by one and half lengths.
Purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis CNZM for $300,000 at the 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Waikato Stud, Ellis believes the filly has plenty ahead of her.
“We’ve got some of our very best owners in this filly and I thought she was very impressive,” he said.
“It was a beautiful ride by Craig Grylls to overcome the wide draw and that’s just how I like our horses ridden – find cover in midfield and get home strongly – and she finished off like a really good filly in the making.”
Richards suggested Amarelinha could next be seen on Boxing Day at Ellerslie, in either a 1400m three-year-old event or the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m), before contesting the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) in January.
“She’s a filly we’ve got a lot of time for,” Richards said.
“David (Ellis) paid a bit of money for her at the Karaka Sales, but she was an absolutely beautiful filly.
“By our champion sire Savabeel, the first foal out of a young O’Reilly mare, and we really liked her because she reminded us of Probabeel.
“Through this win in good order, we should see her racing again on Boxing Day at Ellerslie, and hopefully onwards and upwards to the Karaka Million Mile.”
Amarelinha is from the family of Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) winner Metal Bender, who won nine races in Australia and the title of top Australian three-year-old in his year.