Amelia’s Jewel owner targets Queensland Group 1 races after The Quokka
The owner of Amelia’s Jewel has given an update on her 2024 plans and says the wonder mare has strengthened during her break from racing.
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Amelia’s Jewel’s owner Peter Walsh says the Group 1 winner has now developed into a stronger “weapon” and has revealed the camp is eyeing off a pair of Queensland winter carnival targets after her WA assault on the $5m Quokka.
And Walsh said he has made no decision about which east coast trainer will train Amelia’s Jewel after she makes a permanent move to Sydney later this year.
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In the shorter term, Walsh said the Simon Miller-trained WA glamour mare is shaping up exceptionally well ahead of her Quokka target in April and a likely winter carnival campaign in the Sunshine State.
Amelia’s Jewel finished a fast-finishing second in The Quokka last year after conceding too much start from a wide gate to winner Overpass.
OVERPASS wins The Quokka from a fast finishing Amelia's Jewel! @BBakerRacing@JoshuaParr8@PerthRacing @OfficialRWWA @TheRacesWA@TAB_touchpic.twitter.com/uQK7AzrSkd
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 15, 2023
The good news for Australian racing fans is Amelia’s Jewel has put the impacts of a tough spring campaign behind her, notably when copping heavy interference and lacerations in a dramatic $10m Golden Eagle.
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“After the Golden Eagle, we had to give her a fair while off but she has really developed into a weapon now,” Walsh told Racenet.
“She put on 42kg and Sarah who rides her on the farm says she has felt the best she has ever felt, strength wise.
“She just feels so much stronger, Simon (Miller) has got her now and started to increase her work and she’s shredded 12 kilograms.
“But she’s still 30kg heavier than she was and she is certainly stronger.”
Providing everything goes well in her Quokka campaign in her home state, Walsh had some uplifting news for Queensland racing officials.
He indicated Amelia’s Jewel was likely to head to the Sunshine State for two winter runs.
Those runs aren’t yet decided but could be the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup and Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.
“Things aren’t progressed as to which Sydney trainer she will end up with,” Walsh said.
“We want to see if she comes back well, that’s the number one priority.
“But if she returns well, we plan to go to Brisbane and then she will stay in the east.
“We can’t give her too many runs up there in Queensland, as she has to have a spell before spring.
“We will target the (Queensland) sprint races and then make our mind up then as to who she will go to in Sydney.
“If she does go to race in Queensland, I will be there for sure.
“I’ll follow her everywhere.
“You only get a horse like this once in your life, I waited 50 years to get a horse like this and I won’t get another one.”
Originally published as Amelia’s Jewel owner targets Queensland Group 1 races after The Quokka
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