Testa Rossa mare Amelie’s Star has completed a meteoric rise up Sydney’s staying ranks with a three-length victory in the G3 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) at Rosehill.
The Peter Moody trained four year-old won a Hawkesbury 1800m maiden as recently as August 6 before doubling up in Warwick Farm Benchmarks over 2100m and 2400m.
Amelie’s Star beat a field of seasoned stayers to become the 55th stakes winner by Vinery sire Testa Rossa on Saturday. “We didn’t know how good she was,” assistant-trainer Clare Cunningham said. “Our Sydney stable is only small so we’ve got nothing to gallop her against.”
“She’s just taken a little while, she has been green and still didn’t know what she was doing but I’ve been really surprised how she’s coped with this prep and she’s stepped up in huge leaps and bounds.”
Amelie’s Star (4m Testa Rossa – Zazita by Zabeel) was born and raised at Vinery and is from a half-sister to NZ Karaka Millions winner Sister Havana. “That was impressive and she makes my job so easy,” jockey Josh Parr said. “She’s gone up in grade and up in weight. I’m not one to get ahead of myself but she has the makings of a really good stayer.”
Moody and owner Patrick Hodgens will make a decision this week whether Amelie’s Star has a break or is sent to Melbourne for suitable staying events during the spring carnival.
Testa Rossa’s fee at Vinery this season is $19,800 (inc gst).
