Smart three-year-old Amalfi Prince (Sebring) will continue on a black-type path after his upset win in Saturday’s Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2000m) at Awapuni.
The three-year-old gelding gave trainer Mark Walker his first stakes win since returning to the helm of Te Akau Racing’s New Zealand operation and Walker said the Gr.2 Trelawney Stud Championship (2100m) would be the next task for the son of Sebring.
“He goes to Pukekohe on the 23rd for the Trelawney Stud Championship,” Walker said. “If he happened to come out and win or place then we would have to have a look at the Queensland Derby.
“He is an interesting sort of horse. He was on the New Zealand Derby path but he just weakened off a bit so he had that freshen up and he has come back.
“He had that second at Matamata with blinkers on and just missed but I just think it was a good effort on Saturday because he did it from both ends. He went forward early from the wide gate and used a bit of petrol but he still had plenty of petrol at the finish.”
A son of Sebring, Amalfi Prince was bought by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $90,000 at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale from the draft of Ohukia Lodge.
The Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) will be run at Eagle Farm on May 28th.