Another successful outing for Te Akau
Talented three-year-old Amarelinha claimed a brilliant victory in the group I New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham.
The Jamie Richards-trained Savabeel filly had been expected to dominate proceedings after winning four of her last five starts, but even the best laid plans can come unstuck and that was nearly the case on Saturday.
Backers of the $1.60 favourite had hearts in their mouths as the gates opened with Amarelinha appearing to jump in the air and nearly dislodge rider Opie Bosson.
The move cost her early momentum and forced Bosson to track three-wide leaving the home straight the first time, before Bosson was able to slot into a nice position one-off the fence in midfield.
From there on Bosson sent Amarelinha forward to challenge on the home turn and then urged her two lengths clear with a brilliant burst of speed.
Eventual runner-up Charms Star chased gamely but had to settle for second, a length astern of the winner, with Llanacord making up good ground to finish third. Richards wore a beaming smile as he listened to the raucous chants of the Boys Get Paid syndicate celebrating Bosson and the stylish victory.
‘‘I don’t know what happened at the start as she just fell out of the barrier and he [Bosson] was lucky he stuck with her,’’ Richards said. ‘‘She sort of dropped in then he got going, got round them and then had to drop in again. She was brilliant today and is a very good filly.’’
Purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $300,000 out of the Waikato Stud draft during the Karaka 2019 Book 1 sale, Amarelinha has now won five of her seven starts and over $517,000 in prizemoney for owners, the Te Akau Hopskip’n’jump Syndicate.
Despite the ease of the victory, Richards is in two minds as to whether to extend her campaign with a trip to Sydney or to head to the spelling paddock if the wet tracks across the Tasman persist.
● Further success came the Te Akau team’s way as the prolific winner Need I Say More, added the group II Wellington Guineas (1400m) at Trentham to his nearfaultless formline with seven wins from nine starts, most at group level.
The only defeats in the gelding’s ninestart career have been a close fourth after a taxing wide run in the group II Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m), and a sixth over a distance just beyond his reach in the group I New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m).
Saturday’s Guineas attracted a quality field of three-year-olds, and Need I Say More was overshadowed in the betting market by his talented stablemate Brando, who was the $2.90 favourite with a more favourable draw and star jockey Bosson.
But a wide gate of 11 was quickly overcome by Need I Say More’s jockey Johnathan Parkes, who drove him forward in the early stages to sit outside the frontrunning Hold The Press as the field rounded the first turn. He soon settled into a smooth rhythm as the pace came out of the race and when Parkes pushed the button Need I Say More bounded to the front.