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| Sumita Pawar |
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Trainer Simon Miller is filled with excitement as his prized filly, Amelia's Jewel, returns to full training. Amelia's Jewel will be arriving at Simon Miller's Ascot stables tonight (Tuesday) to begin preparations for her upcoming Melbourne and Sydney spring campaign.
“She’ll trial up here (Perth) twice and then we’ll put her on a plane in the middle of September or the start of September and head over,” Miller told The Races WA.
“She’s done well spelling and looks good.
“She’s filled out, she hasn’t shot up but has filled out.
“She’s heavier, a lot heavier than last time.”
After her devastating loss at Ascot in April, Amelia's Jewel has spent the past three months resting at her home base at Amelia Park.
A Heartbreaking Loss For Amelia's Jewel
In the first-ever running of The Quokka, a A$4 million race over 1200m, Amelia's Jewel came in a heartbreaking second place, losing by a short head to Sydney sprinter Overpass.
Despite a strong charge from the back of the field by jockey Pat Carbery, Amelia's Jewel couldn't catch up to the winner, much to the disappointment of the local crowd. Trainer Simon Miller has now chosen two Melbourne races as the starting point for Amelia's Jewel's interstate campaign, with numerous options available beyond that.
Miller and owner-breeder Peter Walsh have numerous options for Amelia's Jewel's interstate campaign, including the A$5 million Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on October 28, the A$10 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill on November 4, and the inaugural A$5 million King Charles III Stakes at Randwick on Everest Day. The King Charles III Stakes, previously known as the George Main Stakes, is a Gr.1 race held on the same day as the A$1 million Gr.1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield on
October 14. With all these choices, Miller admits he has a lot to consider.
“Her first up run will be the Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on September 16,” Miller said.
“Then there is the Stock Stakes (1600m) two weeks later at Moonee Valley.
“She’ll definitely race in those two and then it’s whether we go two weeks to a Toorak and then up to a Golden Eagle or a Cox Plate.
“Or we opt for the King Charles, back for a Cox Plate or a Golden Eagle.
“We’ll get through the first two races then it’s a fork in the road.
“We can either duck up to Sydney or stay down in Melbourne.
“It’s a hard one, a tricky one, what do you set yourself up best for.”
Amelia's Jewel, a filly sired by Siyouni, has an impressive record of seven wins and two seconds from nine starts, earning a total of A$2.3 million in prizemoney.
Her notable victories in Perth include the Gr.1 Northerly Stakes (1800m), the Gr.2 WA Guineas (1600m), Gr.2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m), and Gr.3 Roma Cup (1100m).
Trainer Simon Miller believes that Live To Tell, another talented horse in his stable, has a chance to join Amelia's Jewel in Melbourne.
During the autumn season, the filly by Territories showcased her potential by winning two stakes races, namely the Supremacy Stakes (1000m) and Gimcrack Stakes (1100m).
Although she fell short of winning all of Perth's main juvenile races, finishing second to Super Smink in the Karrakatta Plate (1200m) last April.
Miller has high hopes for Panzdown in the Listed Bolton Sprint (1200m) at Belmont on Saturday, as he aims to extend his successful training record in the race.
Previously, Miller has tasted victory in the Bolton Sprint with horses like Amasenus (2021), Valour Road (2019), First Among Equals (2016), and Power Princess (2011), sharing the training record with Fred Kersley.