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| Sumita Pawar |
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In a bold move, Simon Miller reveals his 3YO star filly Amelia's Jewel will be racing in the new King Charles III Stakes during the Sydney spring carnival. With a staggering A$5 million at stake, Miller has chosen this prestigious event over a Melbourne race on the same day.
Perth trainer Simon Miller is in awe of the "insane" prizemoney on offer in Sydney, including the inaugural A$5 King Charles III Stakes, a 1600m race, will take place on October 14, coinciding with The Everest day.
Despite originally planning to kick off his Gr.1 winner in Melbourne's Let's Elope Stakes, Simon Miller is now considering a change of plans due to the tempting prizemoney on offer in Sydney's new King Charles III Stakes.
"There are $5m reasons why we would have a good look at it (the King Charles III Stakes)," Miller told Racenet.
"It's just insane money and it's an intriguing race now.
"She will race in Melbourne first but then she could maybe run in the new race in Sydney and we might just move her up there (to Sydney).
"We can't go between states too many times, seeing as she will already be away from home.
"I will sit down and have a chat to the owner (Peter Walsh) and see what he is thinking.
"With the money on offer (in Sydney), we have to have this discussion."
Miller's Dilemma: Toorak Or Throne?
Amelia's Jewel, the reigning queen of Australian racing, is poised to defy tradition and ascend to the throne as the King of the turf in the highly anticipated King Charles III Stakes.
Caught in a tantalizing dilemma, Miller finds himself torn between the allure of the Toorak and the lavish rewards of the newly christened King Charles III Stakes, leaving him contemplating a daring journey to Sydney.
The Toorak Handicap was originally intended to be the pivotal race for Amelia's Jewel, where her performance would determine whether she would compete in the lucrative A$10m Golden Eagle in Sydney or the esteemed A$5m Gr.1 Cox Plate in Melbourne.
"Frosty (jockey Damian Lane) can help us sort out whether we race in the Golden Eagle or switch to a Cox Plate," Miller said.
"The Golden Eagle is probably a no-brainer because it's in your own age group, you only get one crack at it and you know the distance suits.
"But if you go to a Cox Plate and she happened to get the job done, it is less prizemoney, but she is then a Cox Plate winner so what does that do for her residual value?
"Walshy owns the broodmare, so what does that do for all the offspring?
"If we happened to nail the Cox Plate, there is more money to be made through the broodmare ranks."
Amelia's Jewel, the impressive victor of the Gr.1 Northerly Stakes in Perth in December, recently competed in her home state's A$4m The Quokka race in April, narrowly finishing second to Overpass in the 1200m sprint. Unfortunately, her chances were hindered by drawing the widest barrier, number 14.
"She has come back stronger after spelling really well," Miller said.
"She will have two trials in WA and then we will bring her over east."