Amelia’s Jewel’s former trainer Simon Miller says journey with star mare ‘like being at a rock concert’

Simon Miller feels relaxed about handing over the Amelia’s Jewel baton and has outlined how it sometimes felt like he was at a rock concert when she raced.

Simon Miller feels relaxed about handing the Amelia’s Jewel baton over to Annabel Neasham and says the special Perth mare gave him some of his most mesmerising racing moments.

Miller says he will be like the rest of Australia’s racing fans on Saturday, watching on with interest to see how his former stable star fares in her first start for Neasham and co-trainer Rob Archibald in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick.

“I won’t feel weird at all, I’m pretty relaxed about it,” Miller told Racenet.

“I’ll just keep a low profile and cruise.

“It’s not my baby anymore, it’s Annabel’s, and I’ve handed the baton over.

“Annabel has been in contact and if ever she has any queries, I’m happy to help her.

“But I’m also very happy to let her do her own thing.

Amelia's Jewel given a good hitout by @TommyBerry21 to win a trial at @hawkesburyrc on Monday. The @ANeashamRacing mare edges closer to a spring return running 58.15 for the 1000m beating Too Darn Lizzie and Rock Hard Love. @[e-mail]/zLm02YWYoM

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) August 26, 2024

“I thought Amelia’s Jewel’s second trial was good, she just sort of took the gap and went on with it.

“It’s good that she is going out to 1400(m) first-up, she definitely isn’t a 1200m horse anymore.”

Miller and Amelia’s Jewel seemed to go together like bread and butter and fish and chips. But Miller understands the decision from owner Peter Walsh to send the Group 1-winning mare to be trained on the eastern seaboard.

Amelia’s Jewel went into last year’s spring carnival as a hot prospect but didn’t flatter in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap and copped heavy interference in the $10m Golden Eagle.

Simon Miller (second from right) supervises Amelia’s Jewel at trackwork in Melbourne in October last year. Picture: Vince Caligiuri / Getty Images

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But Miller will always hold close to his heart some rambunctious memories from when Amelia’s Jewel ran record time to beat future Group 1 star Pride Of Jenni in the Group 2 Stocks Stakes at Moonee Valley last September.

Pride Of Jenni was then a relative unknown; it was before Ciaron Maher’s freakish galloper went on an extraordinary Group 1-winning onslaught.

“The spring carnival last year might have gone pear-shaped a bit for us towards the end, but it really was the greatest ride,” Miller said.

"Bring on the Cox Plate."

Amelia's Jewel glides to the post to take out the Stocks Stakes 💎 @[e-mail]/dLggkgXDVa

— Racing.com (@Racing) September 29, 2023

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“That night at Moonee Valley was one of my greatest moments in racing.

“We probably didn’t know who Pride Of Jenni was at the time.

“The Valley was heaving, there was music in between races, and it was like being at a rock concert.

“Amelia’s Jewel came out and broke the track record and we were doing cartwheels.

“Then, 30 minutes later, Imperatriz, comes out and wins the Group 1 (Moir Stakes).

“It was absolute madness.”

"Too good, too good!"

Amelia's Jewel delivers in the Let's Elope Stakes 🔥@[e-mail]/vC3GdvdNMF

— Racing.com (@Racing) September 16, 2023

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Earlier this week, Neasham conceded she was feeling some pressure preparing new stable recruit Amelia’s Jewel for her comeback.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, Miller is trying to find the next Amelia’s Jewel.

“She is very hard to replace,” Miller said.

“I have got a couple of horses that could put their hands up, they have won Saturday races but haven’t gone to Stakes level yet.

“I’ve got a horse called West Star (who won two from three in his two-year-old season) who is definitely one that I have high hopes for.”

Amelia’s Jewel is the $2.70 favourite to make a winning debut for Neasham and Archibald on Saturday.

Originally published as Amelia’s Jewel’s former trainer Simon Miller says journey with star mare ‘like being at a rock concert’