Since being transferred to the Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald barn in the winter, former Western Australia Group 1 winning mare Amelia’s Jewel has stepped out for the first time at Warwick Farm on Monday morning.
She was sent around in heat four on the course proper, with Tommy Berry doing the steering over the 900m journey.
The daughter of Siyouni was pushed forward early to sit outside the leader before cruising through the wire under her own steam to finish in second place, while the Michael Freedman-trained Ducasse sat three wide to score by a head under Zac Lloyd.
The five-year-old looks on song for a return, with the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) on August 31 earmarked as her return date in preparation for a lengthy spring campaign.
Amelia’s Jewel currently sits on the fourth line of betting as a $15.00 chance with online bookmakers for Victoria’s first Group 1 of the season.
Meanwhile, the Ciaron Maher-trained Semana caught the eye in the opening trial of the morning, scoring an impressive four-length victory over 1000m with Dylan Gibbons in the saddle.
The Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara (1400m) runner-up was far too strong with residual fitness from her trip to Queensland, making every post a winner to stamp herself as a genuine contender for the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) on August 24.
Semana shares the third line of betting at $8.00 alongside Celestial Legend for the Winx Stakes, while Fangirl is still a firm favourite at $2.70 for the first Group 1 of the 2024/25 season.
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