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Amelias Jewel owners 'Lets Elope Stakes'
Owner/breeder won’t sell ‘special filly’, eyes up maiden Group 1
Article by Trent Masenhelder for TDN AusNZ
Peter Walsh, the owner of Amelia Park Racing, claims he has no interest in selling unbeaten filly Amelia’s Jewel and is hoping the rising star of the turf can hand him his Group 1 victory.
Longtime owner/breeder Peter Walsh is adamant Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) is the best horse he has had anything to do with.
The Simon Miller-trained 3-year-old kept her perfect record intact on Saturday, scoring a gutsy first-up win in the Listed Belgrave S. at Ascot.
She now boasts four wins – all stakes races - and $537,550 in prizemoney, and a Group 1 triumph seems well and truly within her grasp.
Walsh, the owner of Amelia Park Racing, has been in the game for 40 years and has raced some very good horses including Achernar Star (Gingerbread Man), who was a two-time Listed winner and Group 1 placegetter who banked $1,017,021 in prizemoney.
Lady Cosmology (Universal Ruler) who posted three victories, including a Group 3 success in Adelaide, she also placed in a Group 2 and earned $643,475 in stakesmoney.
Samovare (Savabeel) also scored at Group 3 level and was runner-up in a Group 2 in Melbourne. She amassed $467,350 before being retired to the breeding barn. Mr Tanzania (Namaqualand {USA}) won seven races, including three Listed events, and placed second in the G1 Railway S. behind Old Comrade (Old Spice).
And then there’s Miss Conteki (Eurozone), who has chalked up 10 wins from her 15 starts and $438,910 in prizemoney. She is already a three-time Listed winner.
None, however, compare to Amelia’s Jewel.
League of her own
“She’s the best horse I’ve ever had, no question,” Walsh told TDN AusNZ.
“I’ve had some good ones, a lot of Group winners. I’ve never won a Group 1, but plenty of Group 2s, Group 3s and Listed races.
“Lady Cosmology had 14 starts, and nearly all of them were black-type races, and the furthest she finished back was fourth. She ran into Arcadia Queen in the WA Guineas and Champion Fillies Stakes and she was an absolute champion. She was ultra-consistent and very tough.
“She’s (Amelia’s Jewel) the best horse I’ve ever had, no question.” - Peter Walsh
“She’s a special filly; she has so much talent and she’s only three. Clearly, she’s the best.”
Asked if he’s confident Amelia’s Jewel will hand him a maiden Group 1 success, Walsh was cautiously optimistic.
“Oh, geez, I don’t know, I’ve been waiting 40 years. They’re hard to get,” he said.
“Time’s running out for me. Hopefully she can do it. Simon (Miller) is waiting for his first Group 1, too, so hopefully we can do it together.”
Amelia’s Jewel will be seen next in the Listed Burgess Queen S. (1400 metres) on Melbourne Cup Day, where Walsh said the filly will strip much fitter.
“I thought it was a great effort on Saturday because we’ve had a few problems with her. We got a real cold spell for about a month and she didn’t handle it. We were rugging her and everything… she just sort of melted away a bit,” Walsh explained.
“Simon’s really had to nurse her right through. She only had her fast workout on Tuesday, a real hitout, and that’s when Simon said he thought she could win, even though she was only 85 per cent fit.
“Simon’s (Miller) really had to nurse her right through. She (Amelia's Jewel) only had her fast workout on Tuesday, a real hitout, and that’s when Simon said he thought she could win, even though she was only 85 per cent fit.” - Peter Walsh
“We were rapt she was able to get there on Saturday."
After that, it will be the G3 WA Champion Fillies S. (1600 metres) on November 12 or the G2 WA Guineas (1600 metres) on November 19.
“That’s where we will really find out whether she will handle that distance,” Walsh said.
“This campaign is going to be a lot of experimenting.”
Melbourne beckons
All going to plan, Amelia’s Jewel will venture to Melbourne in 2023 for a tilt at some of the autumn riches.
Walsh admitted it was “very tempting” to head east this spring, but they erred on the side of caution.
“We just decided we would nurse her here and go through the grades,” he said. “We really want to find out what distance she’s good at before heading to Melbourne.
“We really want to find out what distance she’s (Amelia's Jewel) good at before heading to Melbourne.” - Peter Walsh
“We will be over on the east coast, hopefully, if she holds her form and everything goes right, in the autumn. We’re going to Melbourne.”
Not for sale
Walsh, who is in his mid-60s, said he has no intention to sell Amelia’s Jewel - he’s not about to 'let go of the best horse he has ever had.'
A savvy businessman, Walsh has developed one of Australia’s biggest meat services and established the Amelia Park brand, which includes premium meat, award-winning wine and of course his beloved racing and breeding operation.
“A few people told me to price on her, but I didn’t because then you’re just teasing them,” said Walsh.
“I’ve had agents say, ‘I reckon I could get you this, would you take it?’, and the answer is no. I don’t want to waste anyone’s time.
“There has been feelers out as to whether I would sell her and it’s a no.”
“There has been feelers out as to whether I would sell her (Amelia's Jewel) and it’s a no.” - Peter Walsh
Walsh said he wants to enjoy racetrack success with Amelia’s Jewel and then, when the time is right, add her to his quality broodmare band.
“I want to race her and I’m into the breeding, so I want to breed with her,” Walsh said. “Her dam is in foal to Siyouni again, she’s 45 days positive.”
A winning formula
Astute Bloodstock’s (FBAA) Louis Le Metayer and Walsh purchased Amelia's Jewel’s dam, Bumbasina (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}), for 75,000gns (AU$131,600) at the Tattersalls July Sale in Newmarket in 2018.
A half-sister to Group 2 winner Epona Plays (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Group 3 winner Dolce Strega (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), Bumbasina was covered to Siyouni to Southern Hemisphere time.
“She won a few races and her half-siblings were stakes winners,” said Walsh.
“She’d just come off the racecourse and was a good, consistent racehorse.
“When we went to Newmarket, I saw Siyouni and he’s just an outstanding stallion. I said to (bloodstock agent) Louis (Le Metayer), ‘We have to send a mare to him’.
“When we went to Newmarket, I saw Siyouni and he’s just an outstanding stallion. I said to (bloodstock agent) Louis (Le Metayer), ‘We have to send a mare to him’.” - Peter Walsh
“He’s just a magnificent animal, and he’s doing well at the sales now, too. I just fell in love with him at first sight.”
Bumbasina has a 2-year-old colt by Merchant Navy, which has been named True Heroes. Offered by Amelia Park Racing and Breeding, he was knocked down to Yenrise Pty Ltd for $160,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale and is in the Sean and Jake Casey stable.
Bumbasina has a yearling colt by Blue Point (Ire) on the ground and missed last spring.
Hoping for a similar result, Le Metayer and Walsh bought Dima (Fr) (Falco {USA}) for 110,000gns (AU$203,000) at the same sale this year. The German Listed winner and multiple stakes performer was served by Frankel (GB).
“I did the same this year, I went over and bought one and she has gone to Frankel,” Walsh added.
“I like my breeding and like to race my top fillies.
“I’m keen to build by broodmare band; I’ve currently got 27, plus a few fillies that are racing, like Miss Conteki that will join them when they retire.”
[24/10/2022]
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