Amelia’s Jewel ends long drought with emphatic win in 2025 Guy Walter Stakes at Royal Randwick
Amelia’s Jewel, the former West Aussie boom mare, gave an emphatic reminder of her supreme talent with a commanding maiden Sydney stakes victory at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Amelia’s Jewel, the former West Aussie boom mare, gave an emphatic reminder of her supreme talent with a commanding maiden Sydney stakes victory at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
The star daughter of Siyouni scored her first win since September, 2023 and maiden success for trainers Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald with a dominant display in the Group 2 $300,000 Guy Walter Stakes (1400m).
Champion jockey James McDonald was able to control the mares test from the outset and gave rivals little hope of upsetting the $1.80 favourite.
Amelia’s Jewel ($1.80 favourite) bolted clear late to beat Brad Widdup’s Ausbred Flirt ($31) by 1-1/4 lengths with the Peter Snowden-trained Tashi ($11) in third.
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“It was a really impressive return to the races,” Archibald said.
“She put the writing on the wall in her trials and in her work she felt really forward.
“A great ride by James and gave her every opportunity. He controlled the race and rode her like the best horse in the race.”
McDonald’s plan wasn’t necessarily to lead on Amelia’s Jewel but was left with an open playbook by Neasham and Archibald.
Amelia's Jewel is back in the winner's circle after leading all the way in the G2 Guy Walter Stakes! 🎉@mcacajamez | @ANeashamRacing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/YE2ERRQBkU
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 1, 2025
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“Annabel left it to us as it looked tricky on paper,” McDonald said.
“She began well and that will put a smile on (owner) Peter Walsh’s face.
“I thought Kerrin (McEvoy on Alsephina) was going to lead but he took hold to stay one off which forced us to go forward and she did it really easily.
“She’s a quality mare.”
Formerly trained by Simon Miller in Perth, Amelia’s Jewel joined Neasham and Archibald’s yard at the beginning of last spring but hadn’t broken through before Saturday.
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She raced well without success throughout the spring, finishing runner up three times in feature races in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes, Group 2 Golden Pendant and Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes.
“She had a couple of great runs and a couple of good seconds but it was frustrating not to win a race with her,” Neasham said.
“I was starting to get a little bit worried because she was a WA star but that was a dominant win today and she’s got plenty of improvement to come. Onwards and upwards.”
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Neasham and Archibald will consider targeting the Group 1 $1 million Coolmore Classic (1500m) on March 15 at Rosehill Gardens.
Amelia’s Jewel saw her price slashed from $8 into $4.50 for the major test to sit on the second line of betting.
“It would be interesting to see what sort of weight she’d get in the Coolmore Classic,” Neasham said.
“There is a nice mares program.
“You’ve got the Queen Of The Turf later on as well. We’ll get her home and make a plan but that was a very good start.”
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